The 2025 European North basketball league playoffs continue on Tuesday, March 18, with three games across three time zones. CSO Voluntari have a 14 points lead against Legia Warszawa. Inter Bratislava hold 22 points advantage against Valmiera Glass ViA. Newcastle Eagles need to win by four to beat the 2024 champions Bakken Bears.
CSO Voluntari vs Legia Warszawa
Series history: CSO Voluntari and Legia Warszawa will face each other for the second time.
Ainars Bagatskis and his men won away game at the Polish capital, 95-81.
CSO Voluntari are 3-1 on the home floor after a narrow loss to Valmiera Glass ViA.
Legia Warszawa are 3-1 on the road.
The winner of the series will face the best team from the quarterfinal match-up between Inter Bratislava and Valmiera Glass ViA.
Key matchup: Mike Caffey averages 11.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists for CSO Voluntari.
Long Beach State University point guard shoots 67.6 percent from the two point line and 40.6 percent from the three point line.
Andrzej Pluta averages 11.6 points, 1.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists for Legia Warszawa.
Polish national team shooting guard shoots 65.2 percent from the two point line and 28.0 percent from the three point line.
National championships: CSO Voluntari are 17-6 at the Liga Nationala.
Ainars Bagatskis and his men are on a three game winning streak.
Voluntari won at Rapid Bucharest, 99-81, on March 15.
Legia Warszawa are 12-9 at the PLK, sharing the fifth place with King Szczecin.
The Legionnaires won at Spojnia Stargard, 81-75, on March 14.
It became the first win for new head coach Heiko Rannula.
Point guard Keifer Sykes joined the team 10 days ago.
University of Wisconsin at Green Bay star played first half of the season at famous Varese club in Italy, averaging 6.8 points and 4.7 assists in Serie A.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Stefan Stefanov (Bulgaria) – referee from 2011, FIBA referee from 2019, Sesame NBL referee from 2018.
Umpire 1: Marius Ciulin (Romania) – FIBA referee from 2003, has worked at multiple EuroBaskets and Women`s EuroBaskets, has worked at the EuroLeague Women Final Four twice and Basketball Champions league Final Four once; one of the Top FIBA referees now.
Observer (at the video): Mareks Voļskis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube
Inter Bratislava vs Valmiera Glass ViA
Series history: Inter Bratislava and Valmiera Glass ViA will face each other for the second time.
Inter Bratislava won the road game at Valmiera, 105-83, to extend their winning streak to 9-0.
Inter Bratislava are 4-0 on the home floor.
Valmiera Glass ViA are 3-1 on the road after loss at Dziki Warszawa.
The winner of the series will face the best team from the quarterfinal match-up between CSO Voluntari and Legia Warszawa.
Key matchup: Shamiel Stevenson averages 23.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists for Inter.
Canadian shooting guard from University of Nebraska shoots 67.9 percent from two point line and 33.3 percent from three point line.
Mike Nuga averages 15.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists for Valmiera.
Nigerian-Canadian shooting guard from University of Nevada at Las Vegas shoots 39.1 percent from the two point line and 46.7 percent from the three point line.
National championships: Inter Bratislava are 22-10 at Slovak Extraliga.
Aramis Naglič and his men are on a five game winning streak in March, including four wins in Extraliga.
Inter won at Handlova, 96-83, on Friday, March 14.
Valmiera Glass ViA finished Optibet Estonia and Latvia league regular season with a 17-11 record.
Nikolajs Mazurs and his men clinched fifth place behind VEF Rīga, Kalev/Cramo, Rīgas Zeļļi and Ogre.
Valmiera defeated Parnu Port, 102-79, on March 15.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Robert Vyklicky (Czechia) – 22 seasons in Euroleague, more than 900 games at Kooperativa NBL, has worked three times at EuroBasket and two times at the Women`s World Cup, as well as multiple U19 and U17 World Cups.
Umpire 1: Peter Ženiš (Slovakia) – Slovak Extraliga referee from 2001, FIBA referee from 2010.
Umpire 2: Elvis Binders-Čoders (Latvia) – FIBA referee from 2021, referee at the Optibet Estonia and Latvia league; regular FIBA Europe Cup and EuroLeague Women referee.
Observer (at the video): Oskars Lucis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube
Newcastle Eagles vs Bakken Bears
Series history: Bakken Bears and Newcastle Eagles will face each other for the fourth time.
Bakken Bears won the 2024 quarterfinals series on aggregate, 188-179.
Anders Sommer and his men also prevailed in Game One of the 2025 playoffs, 87-84.
Newcastle Eagles are 4-0 on the home floor.
Bakken Bears are 2-2 on the road.
The winner of the series will face the best team from the quarterfinal match-up between Dziki Warszawa and Bamberg Baskets.
This is a special week for Newcastle sport, as Newcastle United FC won the first domestic trophy in 70 years after defeating Liverpool, 2-1, in the inaugural Carabao Cup final on Sunday, March 16.
Key matchup: De`Sean Allen-Eikens averages 13.0 points and 3.9 rebounds for Newcastle Eagles.
California State University at Northridge graduate forward shoots 48.5 percent from the two point line and 40.0 percent from the three point line.
Jacob Polakovich averages 13.2 points and 7.4 rebounds for Bakken Bears.
University of Southern Indiana star center shoots 67.2 percent from the two point line and 33.3 percent from the three point line.
National championships: Newcastle Eagles are 10-12 at the Super League Basketball.
Marc Steutel and his men are on a five game losing streak in March.
They lost at Bristol Flyers, 68-86, on March 14.
Big opportunity awaits on Tuesday.
Bakken Bears are 16-7 at the Basketligaen.
All teams were split into two groups recently (1-6 and 7-11).
Bakken Bears lost at Horsens, 84-86, on March 13.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Mohamed Shouman (Netherlands) – Dutch basketball league referee from 2013, BNXT league referee from 2021.
Umpire 1: Kate Unsworth (United Kingdom) – British Basketball league referee from 2007, FIBA referee from 2012, has worked at playoff and final games for Men and Women; has worked at the 2014 FIBA U17 World Cup semifinal.
Umpire 2: Christian Hansen (Denmark) – Basketligaen referee from 2015, FIBA referee from 2021.
Observer (on the spot): Oskars Lucis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube
ENBL playoffs 2025 (local time only)
(A1) Newcastle Eagles – Bakken Bears (B4)
Game one: Tuesday, March 11, Bakken Bears win 87-84
Game two: Tuesday, March 18, Newcastle 19:30 (CET 20:30)
(A2) CSO Voluntari – Legia Warszawa (B3)
Game one: Wednesday, March 5, CSO Voluntari win 81-95
Game two: Tuesday, March 18, Bucharest 19:00 (CET 18:00)
(A3) Dziki Warszawa – Bamberg Baskets (B2)
Game one: Wednesday, March 5, Dziki win 95-74
Game two: Wednesday, March 19, Bamberg 20:00
(A4) Valmiera Glass ViA – Inter Bratislava (B1)
Game one: Saturday, March 1, Inter win 83-105
Game two: Tuesday, March 18, Bratislava 18:00
The 2025 Final Four location will be announced immediately after the playoffs.
Final Four 2025
Tuesday, April 8
Semifinal one: Winner A1/B4 – Winner A3/B2
Semifinal two: Winner B1/A4 – Winner B3/A2
Wednesday, April 9
Medal games
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