VEF Rīga Signs Panamanian National Team Player Luis Rodriguez

Twelve-time Latvian champions VEF Rīga have secured their first overseas player for the next season: Panamanian basketball player Luis Rodriguez, born in 1999, standing 198 cm tall and weighing 100 kg.

Rodriguez played for Franca in Brazil last season and won the Brazilian league title. In the World Cup qualifiers for Panama, he averaged 13 points and seven rebounds per game, including 14 points and 10 rebounds against Argentina. In the Brazilian league, he averaged 10.2 points and 4.1 rebounds.

From 2018 to 2024, Rodriguez played in the NCAA, later in the Dominican Republic, and also appeared in 36 games for the NBA G League team Capitanes CDMX. This will be his first experience in Europe.

Earlier, the club announced the return of Latvian players Mareks Mejeris and Aigars Šķēle. Next season, VEF Rīga will attempt to qualify for the FIBA Champions League; if unsuccessful, they will play in the FIBA Europe Cup. The club also changed coaches, with Jevgeņijs Kosuškins taking over as head coach.