#1. This week's number one is an international guard Armands Skele (192-83, currently plays in Estonia). He was the major contributor in Kalev/Cramo's victory against the league leader BC Rakvere (19-9) 79-74 in the Estonian KML in Friday night's game.
Skele scored 19 points, grabbed 5 rebounds and dished 4 assists in 32 minutes on the court.
It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. BC Kalev/Cramo Tallinn (14-5) is placed third in the KML.
It was his team's eighth consecutive victory in a row.
There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
Skele has relatively good stats this year: 11.5ppg, 5.9rpg, 2.6apg, 2FGP: 55.7%(34-61), 3FGP: 37.5% in the eight games he played so far.
He is currently a member of the Latvian senior national team.
#2. Second place goes to former international forward Maris Laksa (205-81, college: Providence, currently plays in Estonia), who plays in the Estonian KML. Laksa could not help BC Rakvere (19-9) in their last game on Sunday. Despite his very good performance the league leader BC Rakvere was badly defeated 89-71 on the road by the one of league's weakest teams Tln Kalev (#8).
Laksa was the top scorer with 19 points. He also added 6 rebounds and dished 5 assists.
There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial.
Laksa is currently third on the list of top scorers.
He has individually a very good season with high stats. Laksa averages: 15.6ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.3apg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 51.6%, 3FGP: 37.9% and FT: 75.9%.
He played for the Latvian national team in 2003.
#3. The Latvian player who performed third best last week abroad was an international small forward Rihards Kuksiks (197-88, college: Arizona St., currently plays in Eurocup). Kuksiks contributed to an easy victory against the closely-ranked Spartak St.Petersburg (3-3) 73-56 in the Eurocup on Wednesday night.
He scored 9 points and added 3 passes in 20 minutes.
It was the game of the round between two top 2 ranked teams in group I. Budivelnyk Kyiv (4-2) is placed first.
This year Kuksiks' overall stats are: 5.0ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.3apg, 2FGP: 77.8%, 3FGP: 25.0% and FT: 75.0% in the four games.
He is also a member of the Latvian senior national team.
#4. Small forward Davis Bertans (203-92, currently plays in Adriatic League) was not able to help Partizan (15-10) in their game against MZT Skopje (13-12) in the Adriatic League.
Bertans recorded 6 points.
Partizan was edged 66-64 in Skopje by the lower-ranked MZT Skopje (#8).
His team will play only one more game in the Adriatic League Regular Season. And now that game is quite important.
Bertans' total stats this season are: 9.2ppg and 2.6rpg.
He is also Latvian national team player.
#5. International shooting guard Janis Blums (191-82, currently plays in Lithuania) contributed to an easy victory against the closely-ranked LSU-Baltai (5-12) crushing them 111-61 in the Lithuanian LKL last Tuesday.
Blums scored 7 points and added 3 passes in only 13 minutes.
Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius (7-2) is placed eighth in the LKL.
It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row.
There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be important.
It's Blums' first season with the team.
This year his total stats are: 9.1ppg, 1.8rpg and 1.6apg in the nine games.
Blums plays currently for the Latvian national team.
#6. Power forward Rolands Freimanis (210-88, currently plays in Italy) led Sutor Montegranaro to a victory against the ninth-ranked Enel Brindisi (10-13) 93-86 in the Italian SerieA on Sunday night.
He scored 12 points and grabbed 9 rebounds.
Sutor Montegranaro (8-15) is placed 14th in the SerieA.
Freimanis has averaged so far 5.7ppg and 3.0rpg.
He is an international player who is currently on the senior Latvian National Team roster.
#7. Former international forward Ernests Kalve (200-87, currently plays in Hungary) contributed to an easy victory against the fifth-ranked Kormend (1-2) crushing them 96-73 in the Hungarian A Division in Wednesday night's game.
Kalve scored 13 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 23 minutes. It was his first game for Szolnok this season.
His team is placed second in Places 1-6 group.
But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen.
Kalve used to play for the Latvian national team
three years ago.
#8. Guard Kristaps Valters (190-81, currently plays in Spain), who plays in the Spanish ACB was not able to secure a victory for Baloncesto Fuenlabrada (7-18) in their last game on Sunday. Despite his good performance Baloncesto Fuenlabrada was defeated 69-64 in Malaga by the much higher-ranked Unicaja (#9).
Valters was the second best scorer with 11 points. He also added 5 assists.
Valters has averaged so far 9.4ppg, 2.2rpg and 2.9apg.
He used to play for the Latvian national team
back in 2009.
#9. International forward Mareks Mejeris (208-91, agency: Players Group, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help one of league's weakest teams CB Clavijo (9-13) in their game against FCB Regal II (10-12) in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division), despite his very good performance on Sunday night.
Mejeris was the top scorer with 17 points. He also added 8 rebounds in 27 minutes.
But CB Clavijo lost 60-65 in Barcelona to the higher-ranked (#7) FCB Regal II.
There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season.
Mejeris has averaged so far 9.7ppg and 5.4rpg in the 22 games.
He is also in the roster of the Latvian national team.
#10. Point guard Edgars Jeromanovs (186-86, currently plays in Sweden) contributed to a Norrkoping Dolphins' victory against the fifth-ranked Boras Basket (21-12) 94-85 in the Swedish Basketligan in Friday night's game.
Jeromanovs recorded 13 points and added 4 assists.
Norrkoping Dolphins (4-2) is placed first in the Basketligan.
It was his team's eighth consecutive victory in a row.
This season Jeromanovs has relatively solid stats: 12.5ppg, 2.8rpg, 4.3apg and 1.5spg.
He is an international player who is currently on the senior Latvian National Team roster.
#11. Former international center Raitis Grafs (208-81, college: Valparaiso, currently plays in Estonia) helped Valga win their game against one of league's weakest teams Tln Kalev 66-58 in the Estonian KML last Friday.
Grafs had a double-double by scoring 15 points and getting 11 rebounds. He also added 2 blocks in 38 minutes.
Grafs is currently sixth on the league's list of best rebounders with 7.1rpg.
This year he also averages: 12.0ppg and 1.3apg in the 25 games.
Grafs used to play for the Latvian national team
three years ago.
#12. An experienced former international swingman Juris Umbrasko (197-79, currently plays in Estonia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Maris Laksa. He played also in the last Estonian KML game facing Armands Skele (above) in the other team.
Umbrasko couldn't help BC Rakvere in their game against Kalev/Cramo.
He scored 9 points and grabbed 5 rebounds.
His team was defeated 79-74.
Umbrasko has reliable stats this season: 12.0ppg, 4.8rpg, 2.0apg and 1.2spg.
He used to play for the Latvian national team
back in 2008.
#13. Former international center Kaspars Kambala (206-78, agency: Alti Sport, college: UNLV, currently plays in Turkey) helped Pi Koleji win their game against the 11th-ranked Gelisim 84-78 in the Turkish TB2L (second division) in Friday night's game.
Kambala scored 17 points, had 7 rebounds and made 2 blocks in 39 minutes.
He has very impressive stats this year: 20.3ppg, 11.2rpg and 1.1apg in the 10 games.
Kambala used to play for the Latvian national team
four years ago.
#14. Former international guard Edmunds Gabrans (190-79, currently plays in Norway) couldn't help Froya Basket in their game against Tromso in the Norwegian BLNO. Despite his very good performance last Saturday He was the top scorer with 29 points. Gabrans also added 9 rebounds and 3 assists.
Gabrans belongs to league's top scorers (ranked #8) and also on the list of best passers (first place).
This season he has very high stats. Gabrans averages: 17.8ppg, 4.8rpg, 4.6apg and 1.7spg.
He used to play for the Latvian national team
back in 2002.
#15. Former U18 international guard Edgars Cunda (195-84, currently plays in Estonia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Raitis Grafs and both played together in the last Estonian KML game.
Cunda helped Valga win their game against one of league's weakest teams Tln Kalev 66-58.
He scored 14 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 33 minutes.
Cunda is currently fifth on the league's list of best passers with 3.4apg.
This year his other stats are: 11.2ppg, 6.2rpg and 1.5spg in the 26 games.
Cunda used to play for the Latvian U18 national team
eleven years ago.
The list of other players, who all have Latvian passport but never been selected to any of Latvian national teams:
#1.Edmunds Tukiss (200-SF-89, currently plays in Germany), who plays in the German ProB (third division) could not help Dragons Rhoendorf (19-3) in their last game on Saturday. Despite his good performance the first-placed Dragons Rhoendorf was crushed 84-62 on the road by the much lower-ranked BSW Sixers (#8) in the Group South.
Tukiss was the top scorer with 14 points.
Tukiss has averaged so far 8.7ppg and 2.5rpg.
#2. Experienced Gary Gandel (203-G/F-80, currently plays in Israel) contributed to a Hod Hasharon's victory against the tenth-ranked Elitzur Ramla (8-14) 85-78 in the Israeli National League (second division) in Tuesday night's game.
He recorded 8 points and added 4 passes.
Maccabi Hod Hasharon (17-5) is placed third in the National League.
There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season.
Gandel averaged so far 11.8ppg, 4.2rpg, 3.6apg and 1.4spg.
He has a dual citizenship: Latvian and Israeli.
#3.Martins Berkis (198-F-85, currently plays in Hungary) was not able to help Marso NYKK (9-15) in their game against ZTE KK (10-13) in the Hungarian A Division.
Berkis scored 9 points.
But the fifth-placed Marso NYKK was badly defeated 83-64 in Zalaegerszeg by the higher-ranked ZTE KK (#4) in the Places 7-13 group.
There are only four games left until the end of the Second Stage.
Berkis averaged so far 13.9ppg, 5.3rpg, 2.1apg and 1.6spg.
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VEF Riga landed 25-year old Arturs Berzins - Jun 17, 2013
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VEF Riga landed 25-year old Arturs Berzins (204-PF-88) for the next season. The player just left BK Ventspils.
Berzins managed to play in three leagues this year (!!!). In 27 LBL games he averaged 8.3ppg, 3.5rpg and 1.3apg. He helped them to make it to the final after they ended regular season as second best team. Berzins also played 12 games in EuroChallenge where he had 10.0ppg, 4.8rpg and 1.3apg. It was a very successful season in his career as he was selected to Eurobasket [read more]
VEF Riga landed 25-year old Arturs Berzins (204-PF-88) for the next season. The player just left BK Ventspils. Berzins managed to play in three leagues this year (!!!). In 27 LBL games he averaged 8.3ppg, 3.5rpg and 1.3apg. He helped them to make it to the final after they ended regular season as second best team. Berzins also played 12 games in EuroChallenge where he had 10.0ppg, 4.8rpg and 1.3apg. It was a very successful season in his career as he was selected to Eurobasket.com All-EuroChallenge Honorable Mention. Berzins also played 22 games in Baltic League where he had 9.8ppg, 4.5rpg and 1.3apg. He contributed to his team winning the Baltic League championship. The last season Berzins played also at Ventspils. The team played in four different competitions (!!!) that year, and he was exposed to basketball on different levels. In 24 LBL games he had 9.2ppg, 4.7rpg and 1.4apg. Berzins also played 15 games in EuroChallenge where he had 10.3ppg, 4.9rpg and 1.1apg. He contributed to his team making it to the quarterfinals. Berzins also played 2 games in Eurocup where he had 4.5ppg, 3.5rpg and 1.0apg. And finally he played 21 games in Baltic League where he had 7.9ppg, 5.2rpg and 1.0apg. He was also a member of Latvian international program for some years. Berzins played for Latvian Senior National Team between 2011 and 2012 and previously for U20 National Team in 2008. He represented Latvia at the Qualifications to European Championships 2013 last year. His stats at that event were 5 games: 3.0ppg, 2.4rpg.
Jekabpils bolstered their roster. They agreed on terms of contract with Martins Kravcenko (192-G-85). The guard spent the last season in Ukraine. He played for MBC Mykolaiv. Martins Kravcenko posted 6.4 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game in Superleague. Previously Martins Kravcenko had stints with Liepajas Lauvas, Barons/LMT Riga. He earned All-Baltic League Honourable Mention in 2012. The guard also received All-Latvian League Honourable Mention [read more]
Jekabpils bolstered their roster. They agreed on terms of contract with Martins Kravcenko (192-G-85). The guard spent the last season in Ukraine. He played for MBC Mykolaiv. Martins Kravcenko posted 6.4 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game in Superleague. Previously Martins Kravcenko had stints with Liepajas Lauvas, Barons/LMT Riga. He earned All-Baltic League Honourable Mention in 2012. The guard also received All-Latvian League Honourable Mention. Martins Kravcenko was named All-Latvian League Most Improved Player of the Year back in 2005. He was the member of U20 Latvian National Team. In 2009 the guard played for the Latvian University National Team.
Davis Bertans triumphs abroad, but injured his right knee - Jun 13, 2013
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Davis Bertans (210-SF-92) triumphs abroad, but injured his right knee. First results from the doctor's office are that Davis Bertans will be out of action for at least 6 months.
His Partizan won over Crvena Zvezda 68:52 in Game 4 and won the series 3-1. The last game was mostly controlled by Partizan. Zvezda managed to win fourth quarter 19-18. But it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. They outrebounded Zvezda 46-22 including a 35-18 advantage in defensive rebounds [read more]
Davis Bertans (210-SF-92) triumphs abroad, but injured his right knee. First results from the doctor's office are that Davis Bertans will be out of action for at least 6 months. His Partizan won over Crvena Zvezda 68:52 in Game 4 and won the series 3-1. The last game was mostly controlled by Partizan. Zvezda managed to win fourth quarter 19-18. But it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. They outrebounded Zvezda 46-22 including a 35-18 advantage in defensive rebounds. 31 personal fouls committed by Zvezda helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Worth to mention a great performance of French forward Joffrey Lauvergne who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 15 points and 11 rebounds. The former international guard Dragan Milosavljevic contributed with 10 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Four Partizan players scored in double figures. The former international guard Igor Rakocevic replied with 10 points and DeMarcus Nelson added 12 points in the effort for Zvezda. Davis Bertans averaged 12.2 points per game in Serbia.
Barons kvartals: took 3rd place (5-5) in Group C of the First Stage, took
2nd place (5-1) in Group E, lost to Rudupuis 0-2 in the Semifinals !!!
Jelgava: took 4th place (4-6) in Group B of the First Stage, took 3rd place
(2-4) in Group F of the Second Stage
Liepaja: took 5th place (2-8) in Group B of the First Stage
Valmiera: took 3rd place (3-5) in Group D of the First Stage
Ventspils: took 1st place (10-0) in Group A of the First Stage, took 1st
place (5-1) in Group E of the Second Stage, beat Rudupuis 1-1 (+19) in the
Finals !!!
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