June 19, 2013
Club Profile 2012-13: VEF Riga
VEF Riga
2011-12 Results
Eurocup: Last 16
Latvian League: Champion
Baltic League: Final Four
A third consecutive Eurocup appearance allows Latvian powerhouse VEF Riga to look forward and start chasing bigger goals. Last season, VEF successfully defended the Latvian League title, downing Ventspils 4-1 in the best-of-seven finals. It also reached the Baltic League final four and missed the VTB League playoffs on points differential. Above all, VEF survived the Eurocup regular season with a huge road win against PAOK and finished the Last 16 with 3-3 record, losing the chance to get to the Quarterfinals by points differential. Founded in 1958, VEF has featured some of the best players in Latvian history. Valdis Valters, Igor and Raimons Miglieniks, Gundars Vetra, Janis Krumins, Cezars Ozere and Juris Kalnins, played for VEF between 1958 and 1992, when the club disappeared. VEF finished third in the 1960 Soviet League, the beginning of its first golden age. Krumins decided to finish his legendary career at VEF back in 1964 and the team also had players like Ozere and Kalnins, who played for the Soviet Union at the Olympics. VEF finished third again in 1966, but suffered through some quiet years until Valters joined the team. Valters led VEF to a spot in the 1978 Soviet League. With Valters running the show alongside Vetra and Miglieniks, VEF was fifth in the Soviet League in 1985 and third in 1991. VEF took part in the 1991 Korac Cup and the 1992 Saporta Cup qualifying rounds, but ceased to compete at the highest level soon after that. The club was re-founded in 2007 with Valters as the head coach of his alma mater. VEF's philosophy is to feature the best Latvian stars and prospects, complemented by talented foreigners. The club made it to the Latvian League semifinals and the Baltic League second-division title game in both 2008 and 2009, earning the right to join the first division for the 2009-10 campaign. VEF reached the 2010 the Baltic League quarterfinal playoffs and the Latvian League finals, but lost 4-3 against Barons. VEF enjoyed its Eurocup debut in 2010-11, beating eventual finalist Cajasol and former champ Hapoel Migdal, but that was not enough to advance past the regular season. With Kristaps Janicenoks, Art Parahouski and Kaspars Berzins as its main stars, VEF upset Lietuvos Rytas to reach the Baltic League title game and beat Ventspils 4-3 in the Latvian League finals by winning Game 7 on the road. A second Latvian League title and a solid Eurocup performance are its main credentials in the 2012-13 season. With a good fan base and a solid structure, VEF must keep improving in the near future.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Eurocupbasketball.com
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