LU konference
For the 6th consecutive year, the Latvian Basketball Association (LBS – Latvijas Basketbola savienība), collecting the results of the 2016/2017 season, will confer the annual awards in basketball. Every Latvian citizen or foreigner working in Latvia, who has greatly contributed to the development of basketball in Latvia and/or Latvia’s international recognition, is qualified to be proposed for the award. The LBS invites everyone to vote, supporting their favourite nominees in three categories – Men’s Basketball Player of the Year, Women’s Basketball Player of the Year, and Coach of the Year. The candidates are nominated by the LBS Coaching Committee.
One of the five candidates is the Head Coach of the University of Latvia men’s basketball team Guntis Endzels, who lead the team to the historical bronze medals in the 29th Summer Universiade in Taipei this August. The base of the team consisted of the UL basketball system’s players, as well as the coaches that work with the University of Latvia team on daily basis.
Along with Guntis Endzels, the candidates for the best coach of the year are the Head Coach of the men’s national basketball team Ainārs Bagatskis (the 5th place in the European Championship, the best result since the restoration of the independence), the Head Coach of the women’s national basketball team Mārtiņš Zībarts (the 6th place in the European Women Basketball Championship, scoring a place in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup finale, as well as gold in the EuroLeague with the Dynamo Kursk as the Couch Assistant), the Head Coach of the VEF Rīga Jānis Gailītis (Latvian League champion, the 7th place in the VTB League), and the Head Coach of the TTT Rīga Aigars Nerips (Lat-Est WBC and LSBL champion, the 2nd place in the Eastern Europe Women’s Basketball League).
Based on the opinion of the supporters, a ranking table will be created, each candidate receiving a corresponding number of points (the 1st place – 1 point, the 2nd place – 2 points, etc.). A similar vote will take place in three groups – media, LBS Coaching Committee, and LBS Board. The winner will be determined by summing up the four voting results (the 1st place is taken by the participant with less points received).
Supporters can vote until October 31, 23:59, authorizing themselves through their draugiem.lv or facebook.com profiles (everyone is entitled to one vote per day in each category).
Vote for Guntis Endzels!
 men’s basketball team Guntis Endzels, who has lead the team to the historical bronze medals in the 29th Summer Universiade this year. Until October 31, the supporters of each nominee can cast their vote once a day.){kind=link}