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On Thursday, the people of Riga found out their potential opponents in the semi-finals of the Latvian Cup – the most real candidates for the meeting with the national champions are the teams of the University of Latvia and Jekabpils. “VEF Rīga” will be the only Latvian team to start in European club tournaments in the upcoming season, therefore its cup competition will start from the penultimate phase.
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“Since we are in the semi-finals, we don’t have much to do with it. It would be interesting to play with a second or third division team. We hope that a team will play far from the first or second round. I would be happy to participate in the cup together with all other LBL clubs, but we have a very busy calendar and no vacancies, “commented Jahovich on the results of the lottery.
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To date, the team has announced the joining of four legionnaires. Also next season, the team will be played by Finn Alexander Madsen, but the team will be joined by Americans Kail Alman and Michael Kaiser, as well as Puerto Rican Aizay Pinjeiro.
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“The time of self-isolation for American players is coming to an end. They have arrived faster than in previous years, and this gives hope that the results will be better at the beginning of the season. A lot depends on the performance of the legionnaires,” Jahovich explained.
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“Som Madsen is known in Latvia – an athletic fourth number with a good throw, which can also play as a center. Pinjeiro can play in positions from second to fourth, an aggressive player. Kaiser is a fast and athletic center player with a good throw. and can help with scoring points in the team, “Jahovic said of the legionary trumps.
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The team tried to get foreign players to be in Riga at the beginning of the month and before the first official game they will complete a six-week training process.
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“A good test tournament was held in Lithuania at the beginning of September, but it was canceled. The calendar for test matches is being developed. If nothing changes, there will be a test game with Kaunas” Žalgiris “team and other Lithuanian units. But we do not plan to go further than the Baltics,” discovered by Jahovich.
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By the beginning of the summer, the team had settled with all the players, only there were long negotiations with the Americans to terminate the contracts. Compared to the previous season, no drastic changes in the budget are planned, as well as the requirements of the players have not decreased significantly.
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Jahovich admits that the team has not attracted all the players of the national team and the closest candidates he wanted to see in his team.
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“The process is similar every year. Basketball players also look at what tournaments they participate in and what role they can play in the team. The role of national team players is great, so some agree to stay instead of driving away,” Jahovich said.
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The FIBA Champions League season “VEF Rīga” will start on October 13, when the team that will overcome the qualification will face home.
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“There have been no club meetings in the FIBA Champions League to talk about rescheduling, canceling or playing the tournament in a different format. In the main tournament, all schedules and dates are set. We are preparing for those dates and we are waiting for announcements,” Jahovičs noted.
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