Valmiera Glass/Vidzemes Augstskola secured an 82-73 victory over the Rīgas ekselences juniori. Despite holding a 15-point lead early in the second half, the Valmiera side trailed late in the fourth quarter before a decisive scoring surge in the final minutes allowed them to pull away.
Late-Game Rally Secures Valmiera Victory
The game began with the Rīgas ekselences juniori taking an early 4-0 lead behind baskets from Raivo Kudrjavcevs and Roberts Bērziņš. Valmiera responded quickly, reclaiming the lead by the 7-6 mark and maintaining control of the scoreboard until the 37th minute of play. Valmiera’s momentum peaked early in the second half when a three-pointer from Krists Ozers extended their lead to 50-35.
The momentum shifted in the fourth quarter as the junior squad mounted a comeback. With three minutes and 20 seconds remaining in regulation, a dunk by Helmuts Petrovičs gave the home team a 71-70 advantage. Valmiera immediately countered, with Amins Mohameds scoring a two-pointer followed by a four-point play from Brice McBride to shift the lead back to 76-71. Valmiera successfully extended that margin in the closing moments to finish with the 82-73 result.
Statistical Breakdown of the Opening Match
Valmiera’s offense was led by Brice McBride, who finished with 16 points and six drawn fouls. Prinss Oduro contributed 15 points and five rebounds, while Amins Mohameds recorded a double-double with 12 points and ten rebounds, alongside nine drawn fouls. Pavlo Dzjuba added 10 points and nine rebounds before earning five fouls.
For the Rīgas ekselences juniori, Raivo Kudrjavcevs tallied 15 points and seven assists. Helmuts Petrovičs added 10 points, six rebounds, and seven assists, though he struggled with ball security, committing nine turnovers. While the junior squad found success from beyond the arc, shooting 47% (9/19), Valmiera struggled with their long-range efficiency, connecting on only 15% (4/26) of their three-point attempts.
Structural Changes and Roster Depth
This season marks a period of transition for Valmiera Glass/Vidzemes Augstskola. The team is now led by head coach Dāvis Čoders, formerly of Rīgas zeļļi, who replaced Kaspars Vecvagars. Vecvagars moved to a coaching role with the second team of Žalgiris Kaunas. Čoders is supported by assistant coach Edmunds Elksnis, a former captain of the Valmiera side.
The club significantly reshaped its roster during the offseason. New additions include Canadian center Prinss Oduro, guard Brice McBride, Nigerian forward Amins Mohameds, American playmaker Darens Viljams, and forward Rihards Čerņevskis. The team also signed American guard Džeiku Heidbrederu, guard Markusu Tomu, and secured a long-term contract with wing Krists Ozers. They retain core players including Verners Kohs, Mārcis Vītols, Pavlo Dzjuba, and former team captain Artis Ate.
Departures include guard Kristofers Karlsons, who transferred to Ventspils, and Bosnian center Omars Pajičs, who joined the German second-division club Göttingen. The Rīgas ekselences juniori, meanwhile, are coached by Valdis Razumovskis, who also leads the Latvian U-18 national team, supported by assistant Artūrs Strēlnieks.
League Format and Upcoming Schedule
The LIBL features eight teams from Latvia and seven from Estonia this season. The regular season consists of two rounds, with the top eight teams advancing to the playoffs. The league champion is scheduled to be determined in a final match on April 10, 2027, with the third-place game taking place the day prior.
Valmiera Glass/Vidzemes Augstskola is set to continue its season with a matchup against Ventspils. The two teams previously met in the Latvian Cup final. In addition to their domestic league commitments, Valmiera is slated to compete in the FIBA Europe Cup this season.
Worth a look
