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Writer's pictureMāris Noviks

BK Opava still in the race: Tuesday battles in Slovakia and Czechia




One more team may qualify for the playoffs on Tuesday, January 14, 2025. Spišski Rytieri will face BK Opava, while Basket Brno will host Fyllingen Lions.


Playoff implications: Valmiera Glass ViA will qualify for the playoffs if BK Opava lose at Spišski Rytieri.



Spišski Rytieri vs BK Opava


Series history: Spišski Rytieri (1-5) will face BK Opava (3-3) for the first time in the ENBL.


BK Opava need to win in order to keep their playoff chances alive.


Spišski Rytieri are 1-1 on the home floor thanks to a 91-87 win against Tartu Ulikool.


BK Opava are 2-1 on the road after a 69-84 loss at the Newcastle Eagles.



Key matchup: Dwayne Cohill averages 16.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists for Spišski Rytieri.


A former Youngstown State University guard shoots 54.7% from the two point line and 36.4% from the three point line.


Jakub Širina averages 7.8 points, 1.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists for BK Opava.


Guard shoots 55.6% from the two point line and 21.7% from the three point line.



National championships: Spišski Rytieri are 11-9 at the Slovak Extraliga.


The Knights defeated winless NextGen Slovakia, 99-70, on January 11.


Three days earlier they lost at Inter Bratislava, 70-87.


BK Opava are 12-9 at the Kooperativa NBL, sharing the fifth place with Dečin.


The Yellow Devils lost to Olomouc, 57-73, on January 11.



Know your referees

Crew chief: Marek Kukelčik (Slovakia) – referee from 2000, FIBA referee from 2012, Basketball Champions league referee from inaugural season, 2016-2017.


Umpire 1: Jakub Kremser (Czechia) – has been officiating from 2015, Kooperativa NBL referee from 2023.


Umpire 2: Peter Karniš (Slovakia) – Slovak Extraliga referee from 2005.


Observer (at the video): Mareks Voļskis (Latvia).



ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube





Basket Brno vs Fyllingen Lions


Series history: Basket Brno (2-2) will face Fyllingen Lions (0-6) for the first time in the ENBL.


Basket Brno are 0-2 on the home floor and 2-0 on the road.


Fyllingen Lions are 0-3 on the road.



Key matchup: Ethan Chargois averages 19.3 points, 11.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists for Brno.


The University of Oklahoma forward shoots 55.9% from the two point line and 28.6% from the three point line.


Bouna N`Diaye averages 17.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists for Bergen.


A former Northwest Nazarene University player shoots 44.2% from the two point line and 24.0% from the three point line.



National championships: Basket Brno are 15-6 at the Kooperativa NBL.


Perennial favorites Nymburk lead the table with a 19-2 record, followed by Sršni Pisek.


Basket Brno are on a three game winning streak after wins against Jindrichuv Hradec, 93-80, on December 29, at NH Ostrava, 82-75, on January 4, and against USK Praha, 90-74, on January 11.


Fyllingen Lions are 15-3 at the BLNO.


Centrum Tigers are second with a 14-6 record and Kongsberg Miners are third.


Lions defeated winless Oppsal, 104-58, on January 11.



Know your referees

Crew chief: Robin Petrak (Czechia) – Kooperativa NBL referee from 2021, including a playoff game, has participated at the 2019 Kuba Zamojski`s camp for referees in Radom and the 2020 Survival camp in Poland.


Umpire 1: Bartosz Maka (Norway) – BLNO referee from 2012, Polish Basketball federation referee 2007-2012.


Umpire 2: Stepan Pokorny (Czechia) – Kooperativa NBL referee from 2015, regular Czech league playoff referee, including semifinals and finals, ENBL referee from 2022.


Observer (at the video): Oskars Lucis (Latvia).



ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube




STANDINGS, as of January 13, 2025

Group A

Newcastle Eagles 6-1, +50 Qualified

Dziki Warszawa 5-2, +69 Qualified

CSO Voluntari 5-1, +116 Qualified

Valmiera Glass ViA 5-1, +62

BK Opava 3-3, -29

Donar Groningen 2-4, -6

Tartu Ulikool 1-5, -81

Spišski Rytieri 1-5, -103

Spartak Pleven 0-6, -78



Group B

Inter Bratislava 6-0, +25 Qualified

Bamberg Baskets 5-1, +66

Bakken Bears 4-3, +59

Legia Warszawa 4-2, +29

Basket Brno 2-2, +7

Bristol Flyers 2-4, -18

Dinamo Bucharest 1-4, -31

Keila Coolbet 1-3, -44

Fyllingen Lions 0-6, -93

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