BK Ventspils
| BK Ventspils | |||
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| Leagues | LBL, Baltic League, FIBA Europe Cup |
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| Founded | 1994 | ||
| History | 1994 – Present | ||
| Arena | Ventspils Olympic Center (capacity: 3,085) |
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| Location | Ventspils, Latvia | ||
| Team colors | Yellow and Blue |
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| President | Aivars Lembergs | ||
| Head coach | Kārlis Muižnieks | ||
| Championships | Latvian Championships: (9) 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2014 BBL Championships: (1) 2013 |
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| Website | bkventspils.lv | ||
| Uniforms | |||
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BK Ventspils is a professional basketball club that is located in Ventspils, Latvia. The club competes in the Latvian Basketball League (LBL), the Baltic Basketball League (BBL) and the ULEB Eurocup.
Contents
History
BK Ventspils was founded in 1994. In first years Ventspils proved themselves as relevant part of Latvian basketball, but major step came in 1997 when Ventspils Olympic Center was built. At that time Ventspils started to play in international competitions playing in 1997-98 edition of Korać Cup, which was followed by playing in Saporta Cup. Meanwhile in the Latvian League Ventspils reached finals in both 1998 and 1999, but in 2000 they won their first domestic title and then went on to win seven consecutive from 2000 to 2006. The team won its eight Latvian League championship in 2009.[1]
During that championship run Ventspils also had great performances in European competitions. In the 2002-03 season Ventspils reached FIBA Champions Cup Final Four, where they finished third. In the 2003-04 season Ventspils debuted in the ULEB Cup competition, making Eighth-finals. In 2004-05 ULEB Cup season Ventspils reached new heights and missed Semi-finals after losing by one point in two game series against KK Hemofarm. Before the 2009-10 season Ventspils participated in Euroleague Qualifying round, becoming the first Latvian team to do it.
Ventspils has been place for many players to establish themselves on European stage such as Mire Chatman, Marijonas Petravičius, Jānis Blūms, Brent Wright and others, who later had successful careers on Euroleague level.
In 2013, BK Ventspils became the first Latvian club to have won the Baltic Basketball League after winning the first leg with 69:91[2] and losing the second by just 70:73[3] in the finals against BC Prienai from Lithuania. In the following season BK Ventspils won their first Latvian league title since 2009 becoming champions of 2014 Latvian Basketball League campaign.
Honours
League
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- Winners (9): 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2014
- Runners-up (5): 1998, 1999, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013
- Bronze (3): 1996, 2008, 2010
- Runners-up (5): 1998, 1999, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013
- Winners (9): 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2014
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- Winners (1): 2013
- Runners-up (0):
- Bronze (1): 2007
- Runners-up (0):
- Winners (1): 2013
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- Bronze (1): 2003
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Roster
Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.
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BK Ventspils roster
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Roster |
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Notable players
Notable coaches
Armands Krauliņš- Kārlis Muižnieks
- Agris Galvanovskis
- Guntis Endzels
- Gundars Vētra
Gašper Okorn
Silvano Poropat
Algirdas Brazys- Roberts Štelmahers
Season by season
| Season | League | Pos. | Significant Events | Baltic League | Pos. | European competitions |
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| 1993–94 | LBL | 7 | – | – | – | – |
| 1994–95 | LBL | 6 | Quarterfinalist | – | – | – |
| 1995–96 | LBL | 3 | Semifinalist | – | – | – |
| 1996–97 | LBL | 4 | Semifinalist | – | – | – |
| 1997–98 | LBL | 2 | Runner-up | – | – | Played Korać Cup |
| 1998–99 | LBL | 2 | Runner-up | – | – | Played Saporta Cup |
| 1999–00 | LBL | 1 | Champion | – | – | Played Saporta Cup |
| 2000–01 | LBL | 1 | Champion | – | – | Played NEBL |
| 2001–02 | LBL | 1 | Champion | – | – | Played NEBL |
| 2002–03 | LBL | 1 | Champion | – | – | FIBA Champions' Cup semifinalist3rd |
| 2003–04 | LBL | 1 | Champion | – | – | Played ULEB Cup |
| 2004–05 | LBL | 1 | Champion | Elite Division | 4 | ULEB Cup quarterfinalist |
| 2005–06 | LBL | 1 | Champion | Elite Division | 5 | Played ULEB Cup |
| 2006–07 | LBL | 2 | Runner-up | Elite Division | 3 | Played ULEB Cup |
| 2007–08 | LBL | 3 | Semifinalist | Elite Division | 6 | Played ULEB Cup |
| 2008–09 | LBL | 1 | Champion | Elite Division | 7 | Played EuroChallenge |
| 2009–10 | LBL | 3 | Semifinalist | Elite Division | 4 | Played Eurocup |
| 2010–11 | LBL | 2 | Runner-up | Elite Division | 4 | EuroChallenge quarterfinalist |
| 2011–12 | LBL | 2 | Runner-up | Elite Division | 6 | EuroChallenge quarterfinalist |
| 2012–13 | LBL | 2 | Runner-up | Champion | EuroChallenge Last 16 | |
| 2013–14 | LBL | 1 | Champion | Quarterfinalist | EuroChallenge Last 16 | |
| 2014–15 | LBL | 2 | Runner-up | Runner-up | Eurocup Regular season | |
