AUSTIN DAYE will play his last game for BC Khimki! His contract with our club came to an end and we won't prolong it anymore. On Wednesday Austin moves to USA!

EXCHANGE OF OPINIONS

Zoran Planinic, BC Khimki guard:

– VEF is our opponent not only in Eurocup but in the VTB United League as well. We have already played with this team at its home court. VEF is a team with a heart that plays tough. In the roster there are experienced players like Janicenoks, Valters, and Millage, and for sure they want to have a run with us. As for Khimki we are well-prepared, confident, we know how to win games. I think now we play more like a team than in the beginning of the season. It’s going to be an interesting game and I hope we will win. We should emphasize on defense – this is the key for success.

Rimas Kurtinaitis, BC Khimki head coach:

– VEF is a very good team with strong roster including as young as experienced players. For sure they realize that it will be extremely difficult to enter Eurocup Final Four but they are always ready to beat strong teams, they always play in full strength and don’t relax. If we let ourselves relax it will be hard for us. I hope the game will be interesting and everyone will enjoy.

VEF RIGA (RIGA, LATVIA)

Founded: 1929 (re-founded – 2007)
Team colors: Black and White
President: Maris Martinsons
Arena: ARENA RIGA (built in 2006, capacity – 12000 seats)
Official website: www.vefriga.com

Within the bounds of Eurocup group stage round two BC Khimki plays at its court with the current Latvian champion VEF-Riga. For our head coach Rimas Kurtinaitis this game is a special one – more than half a year ago he coached the Riga team, but in March signed an agreement with our club. In season 2011/2012 VEF participates in four tournaments – Latvian Basketball League (LBL), Baltic Basketball League (BBL), Eurocup and VTB United League. At the same time Khimki will face VEF four times: twice in Eurocup and twice in VTB United League.

CLUB’S HISTORY

VEF-Riga is the oldest professional basketball club in Latvia and Baltic region. Club’s name “VEF” came from the radio manufacturing company „VEF“, which founded VEF Riga basketball club in 1929. After the clash of the USSR the club disappeared and was re-founded only in 2007. During 2010-2011 BBL season, VEF made a huge surprise as they eliminated grand Lithuanian basketball club Lietuvos Rytas at the BBL quarter-finals, with result 79-68. This was the first time when BBL finalists wasn't Lithuanian grand clubs Lietuvos Rytas and Zalgiris. However, VEF-Riga wasn't able to become the champion of the Baltic Basketball League as they lost final to legendary Lithuanian basketball club Zalgiris with result 69-75. In season 2010-2011 they become the LBL champions for the first since re-foundation in 2007 time.

SEASON 2011/2012

In the LBL VEF played seven games and lost only once (6-1). The team mostly succeeded in BBL Cup, crushed in the 2011 final Estonian Tartu with the overall score – 95-69. VTB United League progress of the Latvian team is not bad too (2-3): thrice lost to Khimki Moscow Region (75-85), UNICS Kazan (85-99) and Nizhniy Novgorod (88-102), VEF managed to score two victories – over Astana (83-73) and Zalgiris (88-79). As for first Eurocup game VEF at home defeated Greek PAOK – 80-74.

ROSTER

In the off-season VEF parted ways with one of the most eminent players of the last year – Byelorussian center Artem Parakhovsky, who moved to Pallacanestro Cantu (Italy). The club was strengthened by Lithuanian center Antanas Kavaliauskas, Americans Courtney Sims, Curtis Millage and Marque Perry. Russian big man Ivan Nelyubov changed Riga to Nizhniy Novgorod. As for experienced Latvian guard Sandis Valters, he stayed in VEF.

№	Player	Position	Height	Birth	Nationality
4	Marque Perry	G	185	1981	USA
5	Janis Kaufmanis	F	201	1989	Latvia
9	Gatis Jahovics	F	200	1984	Latvia
10	Sandis Valters	G	193	1978	Latvia
12	Kristaps Janicenoks	F	196	1983	Latvia
14	Kasparts Berzins	C	213	1985	Latvia
21	Antanas Kavaliauskas	C	209	1984	Lithuania
24	Curtis Millage	G	188	1981	USA
32	Tyler Cain	F	204	1988	USA
33	Janis Berzins	F	200	1993	Latvia
44	Courtney Sims	C	211	1983	USA
45	Dairis Bertans	G	192	1989	Latvia

Head coach: Ramunas Butautas (Lithuania)