ENBL pride: Tartu and Valmiera to meet at the 2026 Estonia-Latvia league finals
- marisnoviks
- Apr 7
- 2 min read
Tartu Ülikool Maks & Moorits and Valmiera Glass ViA will face off on Wednesday, April 8, at the Tartu University sports hall to play in their first Estonia and Latvia league final.
Both teams played at the European North Basketball league`s inaugural season and Tartu made it to the 2022 Final Four.
The Estonians returned to the ENBL for the next three seasons, showing high standards in hospitality and sportsmanship.
Tartu Ülikool finished first at the 2025-2026 Estonia-Latvia league regular season, posting a 21-5 record and winning the in-season series against runner-up VEF Rīga (1-1, +8).
A team coached by Aivar Kuusmaa, Toomas Kandimaa and Olari Narits, advanced to the 2026 playoffs to win the quarterfinal series against Parnu, 2-0, and the semifinal series against perennial rivals Kalev/Cramo, 2-1.
Tartu sports director is Janar Talts – a true legend of Estonian basketball.
Talts is a four time Estonia champion (2003, 2008, 2010, 2015), a four time Estonia Cup winner (2009, 2010, 2013, 2014), a German Bundesliga champion with RheinEnergie Köln (2006) and a two time German Super Cup winner (2005, 2007).
The power forward won his last three Estonian titles with Tartu.
A former point guard Robert Peterson turned into a successful manager and continues his career at the Estonian Basketball federation (Eesti Korvpalliliit).
Mailis Pokk, a long time Estonian Women`s National team captain and a professional player for 14 years, is the new Tartu Ülikool manager.
Valmiera Glass ViA is the first team which has played in the ENBL for five consecutive seasons.
The Latvians advanced to the 2025 and 2026 playoffs, eventually losing against Final Four teams.
The 2025-2026 season has become the most successful in Valmiera Glass ViA history.
Valmiera Glass ViA guided by first year coach Kaspars Vecvagars, assisted by Gunārs Gailītis and Normunds Lišiks, won the 2026 Latvian Cup – the first trophy in club history.
Point guard Dominykas Stenionis was named the Most Valuable Player.
Valmiera, captained by Artis Ate, outplayed all Latvian opponents at the Estonia-Latvia league, winning the semifinal series against 12 time Latvian champions VEF Rīga, 2-1, after a 0-1 start.
Team`s general manager is a former Valmiera coach Roberts Zeile, assisted by a former player Valters Vēveris.
Both teams have shown cohesiveness, resilience and winning spirit.
ENBL is proud for Tartu and Valmiera successes and wish the best of luck for both teams.
The Final was soldout on Easter Sunday.
Learn more
Be yourself no matter what they say: welcome, Tartu Ülikool!
Started from the bottom, now we`re here: welcome, Valmiera Glass ViA!
I challenged myself to avoid overcorrecting in Geometry Dash. That discipline made my movements cleaner and more reliable.