CSO Voluntari withstood the comeback attempts by Valmiera Glass ViA and posted a 92-78 victory to qualify for the 2024 ENBL playoffs on Tuesday, January 16, at the Vidzeme Olympic center in northern Latvia.
Players of the game
KeyShawn Feazell led all scorers with 25 points on 8/11 shooting from the field.
He made all six attempts from the charity stripe.
A former Creighton center grabbed seven rebounds and blocked one shot.
JT Shumate was brilliant in defense and logged in five steals – one more than Valmiera team.
Toledo star scored 15 points on 5/8 shooting from the field.
Alexandru Olah and Rashard Odomes also finished in double figures.
Sean Seneca Knight signed off with 22 points for Valmiera.
Illinois State standout averaged 20.7 points for a grand total of 145 points.
Knight added nine boards.
Guntis Sīpoliņš returned in lineup with 15 points on 5/7 shooting from the field.
Edmunds Elksnis had 13 points and five assists.
Key stats
CSO Voluntari did a decent job in defense and registered seven steals in the first half.
Some easy points led to higher shooting percentages.
Voluntari shot 53% from the field in the first half for a 46-37 lead.
Valmiera started to play more aggressive defense after the break and cut the gap to four points early in the fourth quarter, 64-60.
The hosts lacked depth to retake initiative.
Voluntari bench outscored Valmiera, 44-9.
The Romanian team also prevailed in three point shooting and shot 47 percent from the deep, 11/23.
Game notes
CSO Voluntari improved to 5-1, while Valmiera Glass ViA dropped to 0-7.
Ainars Bagatskis men have posted five consecutive wins.
CSO Voluntari is the first club from Romania which has qualified for the ENBL playoffs.
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube live stream
Format
Four best teams from each group will qualify for the playoffs (A1-B4, A2-B3, A3-B2, A4-B1).
The 2024 playoffs – home and away, best-of-two series – will take place from February 15 until March 20.
The 2024 Final Four will take place on April 9-10.
Standings, as of January 16, 2024
Group A
Uniclub Casino Juventus 5-0 (+87) Qualified
Bakken Bears Aarhus 4-1 (+61)
Tartu Ülikool Maks&Moorits 4-1 (+57)
Bristol Flyers 3-3 (+39)
Polski Cukier Start Lublin 2-3 (-11)
Landstede Hammers Zwolle 1-3 (-44)
Spartak Pleven 1-4 (-50)
Svendborg Rabbits 0-5 (-139)
Group B
CSO Voluntari 5-1 (+67) Qualified
Royal Liège Basket 4-1 (+68)
Šiauliai 4-1 (+39)
Zastal Zielona Gora 3-1 (+21)
Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles 2-2 (+12)
Keila Coolbet 2-3 (-35)
Basket Brno 1-5 (-58)
Valmiera Glass ViA 0-7 (-114)
Tie-breaker 1: Zielona Gora vs Šiauliai 1-0, +26.
Tie-breaker 2: Šiauliai vs Newcastle 1-0, +2.
Tie-breaker 3: Šiauliai vs Voluntari 1-0, +8.
Tie-breaker 4: Liège vs Zielona Gora 1-0, +23.
Tie-breaker 5: Voluntari vs Liège 1-0, +21.
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