Wednesday, December 11, features two games in Poland and Netherlands. Polish Cup winners Legia Warszawa are hosting six time German Cup winners Bamberg Baskets, while Donar Groningen will face Spartak Pleven.
Playoff implications: no team can mathematically advance on December 11.
Legia Warszawa vs Bamberg Baskets
Series history: Legia Warszawa (4-1) will face Bamberg Baskets (3-1) for the first time.
Legia Warszawa are 2-0 on the home floor, thanks to wins against Fyllingen Lions, 102-72, and Bakken Bears, 88-79.
Bamberg Baskets are 1-1 on the road – they defeated Bristol Flyers, 79-69, and lost at Inter Bratislava, 83-88.
Key matchup: Kameron McGusty averages 15.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.4 steals for Legia Warszawa.
A former University of Miami shooting guard shoots 56.0 percent from the two point line and impressive 72.7 percent from the three point line.
Ronaldo Segu averages 15.9 points, 7.4 assists and 0.5 steals for Bamberg Baskets.
The University of Buffalo point guard shoots 47.3 percent from the two point line and 31.3 percent from the three point line.
National championships: Legia Warszawa are 6-3 at the PLK, sharing the third place with King Szczecin.
Anwil Wloclawek lead the table with a 9-0 record, followed by Trefl Sopot.
Legia Warszawa won at Twarde Pierniki Torun, 82-77, on December 6.
Bamberg Baskets are 2-6 at the Bundesliga but it`s only part of the picture.
Bamberg advanced to the German Cup Top Four after eliminating Euroleague club ALBA Berlin, 80-67, on December 8.
Syntainics MBC coached by a former VEF Rīga coach Jānis Gailītis, Frankfurt Skyliners and Bayern Munich have also qualified for the German Cup Top Four.
Top Four tournament will take place on February 15-16, 2025.
Bamberg Baskets will face Frankfurt Skyliners in the semifinals.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Michal Chrakowiecki (Poland) – FIBA referee from 2019, PLK referee from 2012, has worked at many play-off games.
Umpire 1: Gatis Saliņš (Latvia) – FIBA referee from 2017, Basketball Champions league referee from 2018; has worked at the FIBA World Cup and FIBA Women`s World Cup, including the 2022 Women`s World Cup final in Sydney; has worked at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
Umpire 2: Bartlomiej Kucharski (Poland) – PLK referee from 2016, FIBA referee from 2021; has worked at the 2023 Orlen Basket Liga and 2023 Polish Cup finals; has worked twice at the ENBL Final Four – Wloclawek 2022 and Ostrow Wielkopolski 2023.
Observer (at the video): Oskars Lucis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube
Donar Groningen vs Spartak Pleven
Series history: Donar Groningen (1-4) will face Spartak Pleven (0-4) for the first time.
Donar Groningen are 1-1 on the home floor after a 83-89 loss against CSO Voluntari and a 88-68 win against Spišski Rytieri.
Spartak Pleven are 0-2 on the road, after losing at Opava, 68-83, and Newcastle, 61-75.
Spartak Pleven parted ways with Derek Culver and Brett Reed on December 7.
Key matchup: James Karnik averages 20.4 points and 14.8 rebounds for Donar Groningen.
Boston College star center shoots 56.0% from the two point line and 66.7% from the three point line.
Ahmad Rand averages 7.8 points and 5.8 rebounds for Spartak Pleven.
University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee big man shoots 45.8% from the two point line and 23.1% from the three point line.
National championships: Donar Groningen are 3-9 at the BNXT league.
They are placed seventh in the BNXT division North, two wins behind Rotterdam, Den Bosch and Den Helder.
Head coach Andrej Štimac was dismissed on December 3.
His assistant Jason Dourisseau took the coaching reins.
Donar Groningen lost to Brussels, 71-73, on December 8.
Spartak Pleven are 4-4 at the Sesame NBL.
Pleven defeated Shumen, 97-93, on December 7.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Bert Van Slooten (Netherlands) – a referee at the Dutch league from 2001, FIBA referee from 2005.
Umpire 1: Serafim Petrov (Bulgaria) – Bulgaria top league from 2018, FIBA referee from 2021; has worked at the FIBA U16 Division B final in Sofia and the Bulgaria Supercup Final.
Umpire 2: Maurits Witvliet (Netherlands) – a referee at the Dutch league from 2018; has worked at the Dutch BNXT league Finals in 2022 and 2023; has worked at the 2023 Dutch Cup final.
Observer (at the video): Oskars Lucis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube
STANDINGS, as of December 10, 2024
Group A
Valmiera Glass ViA 5-1, +62
Newcastle Eagles 5-1, +35
CSO Voluntari 4-1, +67
Dziki Warszawa 4-2, +48
BK Opava 3-2, -14
Donar Groningen 1-4, -9
Tartu Ulikool 1-4, -32
Spišski Rytieri 1-5, -103
Spartak Pleven 0-4, -54
Group B
Inter Bratislava 6-0, +25 Qualified
Legia Warszawa 4-1, +43
Bamberg Baskets 3-1, +46
Bakken Bears 3-2, +48
Basket Brno 1-2, -4
Dinamo Bucharest 1-3, -20
Keila Coolbet 1-3, -44
Bristol Flyers 1-4, -28
Fyllingen Lions 0-4, -66
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