#1. This week’s number one is an experienced former international center Ronalds Zakis (207-1987, currently plays in LAT-EST BL). He led his Estonian team Viimsi to a victory over the 14th-ranked Tallinna Kalev (3-17) crushing them 97-75 in the KML in Saturday night’s game.
Zakis was MVP of the game. He scored 25 points in 24 minutes on the court.
KK Viimsi (15-7) is placed fourth in the KML.
It was his team’s third consecutive victory in a row.
There are only four games left until the end of the KML Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
Zakis played for the Latvian senior national team year ago.
#2. Second place goes to former international center Anzejs Pasecniks (216-1995, college: VEF BA Valka, currently plays in Spain). He contributed to a Real Betis‘ victory against the 16th-ranked Obradoiro (7-14) 93-86 in the Spanish Liga Endesa last Wednesday.
Pasecniks scored 18 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and made 3 blocks.
Coosur Real Betis Sevilla (1-2) is placed third in the Liga Endesa.
Pasecniks has relatively good stats this season: 12.5ppg, 4.4rpg, 2FGP: 65.4%(53-81), 3FGP: 33.3% and FT: 59.5%.
He played for the Latvian national team in 21.
#3. The Latvian player who performed third best last week abroad was former international power forward Ojars Silins (203-1993, currently plays in LAT-EST BL). He could not help Kalev/Cramo (17-4) in their last game on Wednesday. Despite Silins’ good performance Kalev/Cramo was badly defeated 93-76 at home by the leading VEF Riga.
He scored 13 points.
There are only four games left until the end of the KML Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial.
This season Silins has relatively solid stats: 10.2ppg, 7.8rpg, 2.1apg, 1.9bpg, 1.5spg, 2FGP: 62.8%(71-113), 3FGP: 31.7% and FT: 67.9%.
He played for the Latvian national team year ago.
#4. Small forward Arturs Strautins (198-1998, currently plays in Italy) was not able to help Reggio Emilia in their last game. Despite Strautins’ good performance his team was edged 84-82 on their home court in Reggio Emilia by the lower-ranked (#3) Varese.
He scored 10 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 27 minutes.
This year Strautins averages: 8.4ppg and 3.4rpg in 17 games he played so far.
He used to play for the Latvian national team
back in 22.
#5. Former international power forward Rolands Freimanis (208-1988, agency: Alti Sport, currently plays in VTB United League) was not able to secure a victory for N.Novgorod (5-7) in their last game on Friday. Despite Freimanis’ good performance the seventh-placed N.Novgorod (5-7) was defeated 83-70 on their home court in Nizhny Novgorod by the higher-ranked Avtodor (#4) in the group A of VTB United League.
He was the second best scorer with 12 points.
Freimanis’ overall stats this season are: 9.5ppg, 3.5rpg and 1.2apg.
He used to play for the Latvian national team
years ago.
#6. Guard Janis Strelnieks (191-1989, currently plays in Lithuania) helped Zalgiris win their game against one of league’s weakest teams P.Zvaigzdes (3-17) 102-83 in the Lithuanian LKL in Wednesday night’s game.
Strelnieks scored 6 points and added 3 assists in only 9 minutes.
B.C. Zalgiris Kaunas (20-1) is placed first in the LKL.
It was his team’s 12th consecutive victory in a row.
This year Strelnieks’ overall stats are: 9.4ppg, 1.2rpg and 3.3apg in 12 games.
He is a former international player as he played for the Latvian senior team year ago.
#7. Former international shooting guard Marcis Vitols (186-1992, currently plays in LAT-EST BL) is a teammate of previously mentioned Ojars Silins. But that was another game of his team in KML which we would like to mention.
Vitols helped his Estonian team Kalev/Cramo win their game against the tenth-ranked LU (5-14) 68-58.
He scored 6 points, grabbed 5 boards, dished 4 assists and stole 4 balls.
BC Kalev/Cramo Tallinn (17-4) is placed third in the KML.
Vitols’ total stats this season are: 9.4ppg, 1.2rpg and 3.3apg.
He used to play for the Latvian national team
years ago.
#8. Guard Dairis Bertans (193-1989, currently plays in Spain) is a teammate of previously mentioned Anzejs Pasecniks and both played together in the last Spanish Liga Endesa game.
Bertans helped Real Betis win their game against the 16th-ranked Obradoiro (7-14) 93-86.
He scored 12 points (was perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line) in 31 minutes.
This year Bertans’ total stats are: 8.2ppg, 1.8rpg and 1.2apg in 20 games.
He used to play for the Latvian national team
back in 22.
#9. Former U20 international small forward Roberts Blumbergs (208-1997, college: GCU, currently plays in Spain) couldn’t help one of league’s weakest teams Palencia (0-3) in their last game on Wednesday. Despite Blumbergs’ very good performance Palencia was edged 63-62 on their home court in Palencia by the higher-ranked Lleida (#3).
He was the top scorer with 21 points. Blumbergs also added 7 rebounds.
Blumbergs has averaged so far 9.0ppg and 5.5rpg.
He used to play for the Latvian U20 national team
years ago.
#10. Guard Eduards Hazners (193-1997, currently plays in LAT-EST BL) faced previously mentioned Ronalds Zakis in the KML last game.
Hazners couldn’t help Tallinna Kalev (3-17) in their last game. Despite his very good performance Tallinna Kalev was crushed 97-75 on their home court in Tallinn by the much higher-ranked (#4) Viimsi.
Hazners was the top scorer with 21 points in a mere 19 minutes.
It was Tallinna Kalev’s 13th consecutive loss in a row.
There are only four games left until the end of the KML Regular Season. So now every game will be important.
Hazners has averaged so far 9.0ppg and 5.5rpg in 19 games.
He is a former U20 international player as years ago he still played for the Latvian national team.
#11. Former international point guard Toms Leimanis (190-1994, currently plays in Ukraine) couldn’t help Odessa (10-20) in their last game on Thursday. Despite Leimanis’ good performance Odessa was crushed 83-59 on the road by the higher-ranked Dnipro (#4).
He was the second best scorer with 11 points. Leimanis also added 3 assists.
Leimanis has reliable stats this season: 13.5ppg, 2.8rpg and 2.9apg.
He used to play for the Latvian national team
years ago.
#12. Former U20 international small forward Roberts Stumbris (199-1993, currently plays in Poland) couldn’t help GTK in their game against Spojnia in the Polish EBL.
Stumbris scored 9 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 33 minutes.
His team lost 54-64.
Stumbris’ stats this year are: 13.1ppg, 6.2rpg and 2.2apg in 19 games.
He used to play for the Latvian U20 national team
back in 13.
#13. Former international shooting guard Kristaps Gluditis (190-1995, currently plays in Lithuania) faced previously mentioned Janis Strelnieks in the Lithuanian LKL last game.
Gluditis couldn’t help P.Zvaigzdes in their game against Zalgiris.
He scored 9 points.
His team was badly defeated by 19 points 102-83.
This season Gluditis averages only 6.3ppg.
He used to play for the Latvian national team
years ago.
#14. Former U18 international forward Matiss Kulackovskis (206-1997, currently plays college basketball in the States), who plays in the NCAA couldn’t help the BGSU (5-12) in their last game. Despite Kulackovskis’ very good performance the BGSU lost 82-91 in Muncie to the Ball State University.
He scored 17 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in a mere 19 minutes.
Kulackovskis has averaged so far 6.1ppg and 2.5rpg in 21 games.
He used to play for the Latvian U18 national team
back in 15.
#15. Former international point guard Ingus Jakovics (186-1993, currently plays in France) managed to help Limoges CSP Elite to win against the closely-ranked Pau-Lacq-Orthez 85-75 in the French Betclic ELITE ProA in Sunday night’s game.
Jakovics scored 5 points.
Jakovics has averaged so far 4.7ppg and 1.7rpg.
He used to play for the Latvian national team
years ago.
The list of other players, who all have Latvian passport but never been selected to any of Latvian national teams:
#1. Andrew Smith (205-C-1992, college: Liberty, currently plays in Sweden) was the major contributor in a BC Lulea‘s victory against the closely-ranked KFUM Jamtland (19-8) 88-84 in the Swedish Basketligan on Thursday night.
Smith had a double-double by scoring 18 points and getting 10 rebounds. He also added 3 assists in 30 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it’s only Smith’s first season in pro basketball. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. BC Lulea (18-10) is placed third in the Basketligan.
There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
This year Smith has relatively solid stats: 10.2ppg, 7.8rpg, 2.1apg, 1.9bpg and 1.5spg in 23 games he played so far.
He is a naturalized American.
Smith used to play for Jurmalas Sports / Fenikss in Latvian league.
#2. Toms Kedis (182-PG-1998, college: Morton CC, currently plays in LAT-EST BL). Kedis could not help Tarvas (4-17) to beat Tartu (8-13).
He scored 8 points, grabbed 4 rebounds and dished 3 assists in 26 minutes.
Tarvas was edged 70-67 on the road by the higher-ranked (#9) Tartu.
It was Tarvas’ fifth consecutive loss in a row.
There are only three games left until the end of the KML Regular Season.
Kedis has averaged so far 4.7ppg and 1.7rpg in three games.
#3. Aksels Skaistlauks (195-SG-1997, currently plays in Spain) was not able to help Andujar (3-0) in their last game on Saturday. Despite his good performance Andujar was edged 83-80 on the opponent’s court by the much lower-ranked Penarroya (#12) in the Group D-A.
Skaistlauks scored 10 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.
The Regular Season already ended.
Skaistlauks has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 15.7ppg, 6.0rpg, 2.2apg and 1.4spg.
#4. Experienced Rihards Sulcs (190-F-1987, currently plays in United Kingdom) contributed to Dragons‘ victory against the closely-ranked Wolves (2-16) 90-82 in the British NBL D1 (second division) last Saturday.
Sulcs scored 6 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and dished 3 assists.
Bradford Dragons (8-11) is placed tenth in the NBL D1.
Sulcs has averaged so far 6.7ppg, 5.6rpg, 2.6apg and 2.2spg.
#5. Aivars Stikuts (204-C-1996, currently plays in Germany) contributed to Aschersleben‘s victory against the 14th-ranked Bramsche (5-16) 87-76 in the German Regionalliga (fourth division) in Saturday night’s game.
He scored 7 points in 16 minutes.
BG Aschersleben Tigers (13-6) is placed third in North group.
Stikuts has averaged so far 8.4ppg, 4.2rpg and 1.1apg in 19 games.
#6. Janis Ramma (195-C-1982, currently plays in Belgium) managed to help BBC Latem-De Pinte Donza in a victory against the tenth-ranked Gembo BBC 80-62 in the Belgian Top Division I (second division) on Tuesday night.
He recorded only 4 points in 13 minutes.
Ramma has averaged so far 3.8ppg and 2.2rpg in 15 games.
|
|
