Just as every season, perennial Latvian League champion is back in the elimination rounds with the ambition to reach higher than ever. Its best run came in 2005, when Ventspils made it to the quarterfinals and lost by one point in the two-way series against Hemofarm. There are reasons to believe Ventspils can reach even higher, as even when the ULEB Cup gets better every year, the team is ready for bigger challenges. Ventspils opened the regular season with a resounding 65-76 road win against Besiktas JK Cola Turka. Tough times came, as FMP broke Ventspils' 13-game ULEB Cup home winning streak and then the team registered a narrow 72-68 road loss Strasbourg. Ventspils bounced back with a 77-74 home win against Snaidero Cucine Udine but Anwil defeated the Latvian champion 87-84 in which has been the team's last ULEB Cup loss so far. Ventspils got a 89-74 against Besiktas and then showed its power by downing eventual Group B champion FMP 96-100 in Zeleznik. Dusan Jelic paced Ventspils with 25 points in a thrilling overtime win. Ventspils then overwhelmed Strasbourg 87-60 at home and then added a shocking 91-93 road win against Snaidero Udine, in a do-or-die battle for the second spot in Group B. Its last home win against Anwil only confirms that Ventspils is ready for a deep run in the elimination rounds, in which it will have the home court advantage in the eighthfinals. Eddie Shannon has been Ventspils' floor general this season, as he was the only player to make it to the Top 15 in points, assists and steals at the end of the regular season. Dusan Jelic is one of the best rebounders in the competition, while Uvis Helmanis, Justin Love and Dalron Johnson have also led the team in scoring at some point. Being one of the best shooting teams in the competition and being so strong at home, the sky may well be the limit for Ventspils.
