Valmiera Glass/Vidzemes Augstskola will continue to play in the European North Basketball league.
Tartu, Brno and Valmiera have put their trust into the ENBL from Day One.
It`s no surprise that these teams continue to play in the league.
Valmiera had a rough season in the ENBL but improved its performance at the Pafbet Estonia and Latvia league.
Nikolajs Mazurs took the coaching reins on February 9, 2024, replacing Oskars Virsis who guided the team during the ENBL campaign.
A daredevil from Bauska previously coached at Tartu (2021-2023) and Šiauliai (2023).
He signed a two year contract with Vidzeme club and will become the first coach who has worked with three different ENBL teams.
Mazurs won the Latvian title with VEF Rīga in 2015 and worked with multiple national team players.
He won the Estonian Cup with Tartu and qualified for the 2022 ENBL Final Four.
Mazurs recently posted a 6-8 record with Valmiera.
His new team defeated five Estonian clubs – Tallinn Kalev/SNABB, Parnu, Rapla, Viimsi and Keila – to finish Pafbet season with a 9-21 record (4-16 on Mazurs arrival).
Valmiera closed out the 2024 season with a 1-3 quarterfinal loss against Rīgas Zeļļi, current vice-champion of Latvia.
Vidzeme town has a strong youth system, supported by Dairis and Dāvis Bertāns.
Dairis returned to Latvia in 2023 and won the Latvian title with VEF Rīga.
Dāvis continue to play in the NBA – he finished the season with the Charlotte Hornets.
Valmiera basketball school carries Bertāns family name.
Dainis Bertāns – a father of Dāvis and Dairis – is the third best scorer in Valmiera history after Jānis Kaufmanis and Sandis Amoliņš.
Dainis jersey #8 has been retired at the Vidzeme Olympic Center.
Brothers Bertāns have opened two outdoor basketball courts in Valmiera and Sigulda – with former dedicated to Kobe and Gigi Bryant.
They host an annual masterclass for the young players and serve as the guiding stars for Valmiera basketball.
BC Valmiera Glass/ViA is a student club of Vidzeme University, founded in 2009.
Valmiera Glass/VIA battled the rivals from Jelgava and Gulbene until 2018, when it was promoted to the newly founded Estonia and Latvia league.
Estonia and Latvia league – with a new, unannounced general sponsor – will most likely feature 14 teams in 2024-2025, including seven squads from Latvia and seven from Estonia.
Prometey withdrew from European competitions, after winning two Estonia and Latvia league titles in 2023 and 2024.
Tallinn Kalev/SNABB is also out, while clubs from Ukraine and Israel have shown interest to play in the league.
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