In the coming game of VTB United League BC NN meets another opponent – the black-and-white team from Riga – VEF. A five point advantage victory might let our team climb to the 4th place in our group.
If our most principal rivals in Russia are both Spartaks from S.Petersburg and Vladivostok, the one outside is definitely VEF Riga.
For the second year in the row this team becomes our opponent in the VTB United League. With home (102:88) and away (97:92) victories over Riga last season, Nizhny lost in December 2012 at home.
The Latvian club became twice stronger when they’d invited the American playmaker Earl Rowland. VEF’s Lithuanian coach Ramunas Butautas showed really tough struggle to the higher ranking clubs. It is a good season for Donatas Zavatskas and Dairis Bertans, Will Daniels and Antanas Kavalyauskas. In all senses notable play shows the 213cm giant Kaspars Berzinsh. But undoubtfully the best VEF player from the beginning of the season is still Earl Rowland. He’s gaining 16,7 points per game, having 5,8 rebounds and more than 6 assists per game. Since our last meeting there were only two American changes in the Latvian team roster: the guard Luke Loucks left it and the center 211cm Miami Heat own Justin Hamilton entered.
Speaking of our advantages, having won over CSKA is there any sense of fearing anybody else? And then we are now stronger than at our first encounter with VEF. Dijon Thompson is in good shape and will surely become the key player in Riga. We now have Artem Yakovenko back from Spartak SPb and he’s ready to struggle. As well as Semen Antonov and Ivan Saveliev which was proved at the CSKA match. Plus Primoz Brezec has returned to the floor and is about to show his game to the Latvians. What’s more, the praised VEF which might have appeared scary even to the favorites, didn’t show any extraordinary play in Nizhny. We need and must win this coming game to climb to the 4th place in our group.
BC VEF
Founded: 1958
Colors: black/white Home
arena: Arena Riga Main
coach: Ramunas Butautas (Lithuania)
Champion of Latvia 2011, 2012
Silver medalist of Latvia 2010
Bronze medalist USSR Cup 1960, 1966, 1991
Bronze medalist Baltic League Cup 2012
Half finalist Latvian championship 2008, 2009
Nizhny Novgorod landed Sean Denison
BC Nizhny Novgorod signed a one-year deal with Canadian bigman Sean Denison (211 cm, 111 kg, 32 y.o.). Last season he spent in Romanian CSM Oradea, participating in the national championship and Basketball Champions League. From 2011 till 2013 he played in Russian clubs Spartak-Primorye and Ataman.
Nizhny Novgorod terminated the contract with American forward Erik McCree who’d joined the team this august. The decision was made by mutual agreement. At the moment Nizhny is in search of a new player for the vacant place.
BC Nizhny Novgorod signed Erik McCree
BC NN signed a two-year contract with American forward Erik McCree (23 y.o., 203 cm, 102 kg). From 2013 to 2017 he was playing for Louisiana Tech in NCAA. Last season he showed his best statistics averaging 17,7 points, 8,9 rebounds, 1,3 assists in 33 games.
Sterling Gibbs joins BC Nizhny Novgorod
BC NN signed a two-year deal with American point guard Sterling Gibbs (188cm, 84kg, 24 y.o). In his college years he played for Seton Hall Pirates and Connecticut Huskies in NCAA. In 2016-2017 spent his first season overseas as he joined Hungarian team Kormend. He helped the team to semifinals in Hungarian Cup and Hungarian League averaging 14,4 points, 2,1 rebounds, 3,3 assists in 27 games.
