ASK Riga

The A.S.K. Rigais the most important basketball team in the city of Riga (Latvia) and, in the 50s and 60s, it was considered the best in both the League of the former Soviet Union and the European continent. Among their titles are three European Cups, won consecutively in 1958, 1959 and 1960, a milestone that would not be equaled until 30 years later by the Yugoslavian Jugoplastika Split. Their best player of all time is center Jānis Krūmiņš, who was the leading scorer in the 1959 and 1960 finals.

About the club

The history of the club dates back to 1929, when it immediately began representing the Chamber of Officers. Until the 50s, it consistently won the championship of the Latvian SSR, it was at that time that the team received the right to play in the Higher League of the USSR and in 1955 it won the first national championship.

At that time, legendary coach Alexander Gomelsky was in charge of the team, and he was the one who achieved the team's most golden years. In 1957, 1958, the team achieved two more USSR championships.

In 1957, the first European Champions Cup began, attended by champions and some vice-champions from European countries. The Riga team won the first three competitions consecutively, a fact that has never been surpassed, although it was equaled, by the Jugoplastika Split of Yugoslavia 30 years later. And in 1961, in the fourth tournament, they lost in the final to another Soviet team, CSKA Moscow.

In 1966, Alexander Gomelsky left Riga and went to CSKA Moscow, after which the club stopped winning both in the Soviet championship and at the European level, and then completely fell into the second league. At the last USSR championship in 1991, it ceased to exist.

In 2005, on the basis of the BC Riga club, the ASK Riga club, the Riga Army Sports Club, was revived. And in 2007, the team won the LBL (Latvian Basketball League) national championship. Before the start of the 2009/2010 season, the team declared bankruptcy, which is why it withdrew from the championship.

Name

In Soviet times, the team was called "SKA" Riga (Army Sports Club), now the team is called "ASK" Riga (Army Sports Club, Latvian. Armijas Sporta Klubs).

Titles

• European Cup: 1958, 1959, 1960.

• USSR Basketball Championship: 1954-55, 1956-57, 1957-58.

• Latvian Basketball Championship: 2007.

Players