Valmiera Glass/Vidzemes Augstskola ended a two-game skid Tuesday night with a hard-fought 86-81 victory over Keila in Optibet Latvian-Estonian Basketball League action. Teh win at Valmiera Sports Hall was critical for the Latvian club as it navigates a competitive season and aims to solidify its playoff positioning[[1]]. despite playing without october MVP Dominiks Steņonis and Verners Kohs, Valmiera showcased resilience and rebounding dominance to secure the win[[1]]. The team now prepares for a december 3rd matchup against Voluntari of Romania following a break for European North League play.
Anivaniva Teits-Džounss | Foto: VALMIERA GLASS VIA
Valmiera Glass/Vidzemes Augstskola snapped a two-game losing streak on Tuesday night, overcoming a tough challenge from Keila to win 86-81 in a LIBL (Optibet Latvian-Estonian Basketball League) contest. The victory keeps Valmiera firmly in the playoff picture as the league season progresses.
The game proved to be a back-and-forth affair, with Keila frequently holding the lead and the home team never extending their advantage beyond four points through the first three quarters. However, Valmiera surged ahead in the final period, taking a 10-point lead with under two minutes remaining thanks to a key basket from Kristofer Karlson. Keila battled to close the gap, but ultimately couldn’t complete the comeback.
Anivaniva Teits-Džounss led the way for Valmiera with a strong performance, posting 17 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Karlson added 16 points, while Artis Atem and Mārcis Vītols contributed 15 and 12 points respectively. Valmiera dominated the boards, outrebounding Keila 51-36, with Rinalds Mālmanis (11 rebounds) and Omars Pajičs (10 rebounds) leading the charge.
The Vidzeme club was without key players Dominiks Steņonis, the league’s October MVP, and Verners Kohs for this matchup. Despite their absence, Valmiera found a way to secure a crucial win.
Kvion Bērns led Keila with a double-double of 27 points and 10 rebounds, while Tormi Nīts chipped in with 20 points and Džeremija Peidžs added 16.
With the win, VALMIERA GLASS VIA improves to 8-2 in the Optibet LIBL standings, currently holding fourth place. Valmiera will return to action on December 3rd against Romanian club “Voluntari” after a break for national team play in the European North League (ENBL), and will then face VEF Rīga on December 6th in a domestic league game.
