By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Recently-retired Janis Blums has been elected as the chairman of the board at VEF Riga, the team announced.
Blums, 39, retired from professional basketball a few weeks ago. However, he is back for VEF Riga. He had a couple of stints at the Latvian club as a player in 2016-17 and 2019-20. He was crowned Latvian champion in both seasons.
“I can call VEF my team again,” he said, “It is a pleasure, straight after the end of my playing career, to be able to use my experience and knowledge, and working at the highest level to help VEF Riga become an even better and stronger team.”
“The fact that Janis will now be in the VEF office will be equally important as him being part of the active squad,” added team president Gatis Jahovics, “I hope he will be able to add to his collection of titles in the future. I am convinced that his return makes us stronger as a club and will have a positive effect on team performances.”
His playing career ranging over two decades traveled Blums to Poland, Lithuania, Italy, and Spain at the club level. He also appeared in six EuroBasket tournaments, most as the captain of the Latvia national team.
VEF Riga is preparing for the 2021-22 season, including the next edition of the Basketball Champions League. Ron Curry, Ilja Gromovs, Maris Gulbis, Rayshaun Hammonds, Anrijs Miska, Jalen Riley, and Devondrick Walker were added during the offseason, while Emils Krumins, Alexander Madsen, Artis Ate, and Kristers Zoriks were retained.
AEK, Falco Szombathely, and one more team jumping out of the qualifying rounds will be on the schedule for VEF Riga preparing for Group D of the BCL Regular Season.
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League