“The composition of players in Ventspils may change, the budget may decrease – it may happen in sports. But there’s a basketball culture, you walk into the hall and you know there’s basketball. It may be that spectators do not come there, but the players know that they are playing in Ventspils. This cannot be achieved with one season of work, it is history and therefore it will always be a derby. Latvian players definitely have that feeling, ”Rānis coach Jānis Gailītis pointed out in the podcast created by“ VEF Rīga ”that this season the games of both teams will be especially principled.
Today, everything will start again with two zeros on the board and the referee’s throw-in. “VEF Rīga” is considered by bookmakers to be a definite favorite, and a large number of fans probably think so. However, the team’s options this season are too different. In Riga, the team was formed with a view of the FIBA Champions League and about one million euros have been allocated for it. Meanwhile, in Ventspils, after the political peripetums around the city’s free port, it has become less of a significant sponsor, and with a twisted belt, the opportunities are at least twice less than in the capital. However, not playing in European club tournaments and gathering the team only to fight for local medals, a very solid team core has been gathered in Ventspils.
“We actually got the Latvian players we wanted and could afford. The biggest gap is in the position of the power striker. One Lithuanian had arrived, had some more intentions, but so far it is as it is. We really need another smart player who is a really high-class master in at least one component. It takes time to attract new ones who will have more responsibility. We are not afraid of opponents. I can be crazy on the sidelines if I see that someone is not fighting, not falling for the ball. We will fight! ” In a conversation with Jauns.lv before the season, said the new head coach of BC “Ventspils” Gints Fogels.
Ventspils residents started the season with three victories in Liepaja (92:91), over “University of Latvia” (91:85) and Ogre (83:76). The most convincing came out a week ago in Ogre, where the prospects for success of Kurzeme residents were assessed the lowest. That was Ventspils’ message to everyone – to write us off quickly. Basketball fans with the number of years, the youth of which has come to Māris Gulbis, who with the average score of 32 points is currently the hottest player in the whole league. Ventspils residents have played the first three games with the rotation of actually seven players, with the new ones getting limited minutes of play. Its vents have both a strong and a weak point. On the one hand, the basic line-up plays without undue stress, without fear of being replaced, without complicated schemes. On the other hand, in the long run, with the rotation of such players, fatigue will occur and it can also happen within one game – “VEF Rīga” with full player coverage in all 40 minutes.
Jānis Gailītis, the head coach of “VEF Rīga”, believes that in the home championship it is no longer possible to divide the strengths and weaknesses of the team: “Latvian club basketball should not be underestimated. It’s not as athletic or with many individual high-end basketball players. But it is with very smart players and good coaches. I believe that the order in our teams is much higher than in another VTB league club. Here you know – if you play badly, you lose. ”
In the first games of the season, the Rigans ran all – 81:63 against Ogre, 104: 63 against Liepāja, 105: 90 against Valmiera. If you haven’t met, at least some “VEF Rīga” game viewing this autumn is worth it. It is a completely different vefin, looking for happiness in fast and athletic basketball. Fast and athletic legionnaires, the new team leader Aigars Šķēle, Krister Zorika’s application in adult basketball. Equivalent lineup with a rotation of at least ten players!
“This time we have more protection against injuries in the set. The fewer players, the more load – it all accumulates. Equivalent changes are also needed to ensure stability. Seeing what the situation is, you may find that there will not be many games. With twelve good players as a team we can also grow in training. The big change – we don’t have a heavy center like the Craiina did a year ago, but there are players who are fast and like to run. It is important not to impose only your basketball on them, it is important to catch them. For example, imagine last season with Jānis Blūms – he would hardly want to play that way. Now our main task is how to run and think at the same time, ”says Gailitis about the new game model of Rigans.
Statisticians have estimated that since 2009, both teams have played 65 games in various tournaments, 34 of which celebrate the victory for the people of Riga. If you are looking for something in home basketball this season, then the game of VEF and Ventspils could be the right place.
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