EXCHANGE OF OPINIONS

Rimas Kurtinaitis, BC Khimki head coach:

– VEF Riga is a strong team, which reached the Last 16 from the second place. This game will not change anything in the standings, but the game is important for both teams. VEF will try to beat Khimki and we would like to finish this stage without defeats. Vitaly Fridzon stayed home because right now it's a good time to give him a rest and cure his injuries. It's better to do it now, cause after New Year we'll have a lot of games.

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

Both teams have already qualified for the next round and Khimki has clinched first place. But Khimki will be looking to finish the season unbeaten and Riga would gain a lot confidence by defeating one of the competition powerhouses. Khimki won the first game 90-70 at home. Two Lithuanian coaches face-off from the sidelines. Khimki is the leading team in assists (20 apg.).

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.

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)