By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Big news for VEF Riga during the Pafbet LBL Finals with 35-year-old Dairis Bertans penning a contract extension.
The veteran shooting guard will play for the Vefins during the 2025-26 season, the team announced on Friday.
“I want to thank the management for the trust and opportunity to continue representing the most professional basketball organization in Latvia,” said Bertans, “Let’s continue to fight exclusively for wins, both in the locals leagues and at the international level.”
The native of Valmiera reunited with VEF before the 2023-24 season, after previously playing for the club between 2010 and 2013. His efforts as team captain led to winning the 2024-25 installment of the Optibet Latvian-Estonian Basketball League, in addition to the 2023-24 edition of Latvia’s LBL and extending a bid for a seventh straight domestic league title into an ongoing championship series against Ventspils. He also lifted the domestic Cup in 2024 and 2025.
Leading his side in the Basketball Champions League generated nine appearances over the last two years, including 21.7 points with 50% from beyond the arc, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 3.0 steals per contest over three games in the 2024-25 campaign of the top-tier club continental competition of FIBA Europe. And he will be back for the next season.
“We are pleased that the contract with Dairis has been extended so early,” noted team president Gatis Jahovics, “He is not only a captain, but also a leader inspiring everyone around him with his attitude and professionalism. He is a true role model both on and off the court.”
The career of the veteran guard stretched to 12 NBA games with the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2018-19 Regular Season and 123 appearances in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, besides representing Latvia across all junior national teams and several FIBA tournaments at the senior level.
Photo Credit: FIBA