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Writer's pictureMāris Noviks

Super Tuesday: three games in Opava, Valmiera and Newcastle




Bonfire night features three games in Czechia, Estonia and the United Kingdom. BK Opava welcome Dziki Warszawa. Tartu Ulikool face Valmiera Glass ViA in another cross border clash, while the Newcastle Eagles will host Donar Groningen.



BK Opava vs Dziki Warszawa


Series history: BK Opava (2-0) will face Dziki Warszawa (2-1) for the first time in the ENBL.


Opava won the home opener against Spartak Pleven, 83-68, and then posted a 86-80 comeback win at Tartu.


Yellow Devils are on a five game winning streak.


Dziki won both home games against Donar Groningen, 95-79, and Spišski Rytieri, 102-70.


Warszawa club suffered a 83-103 loss at CSO Voluntari.



Key matchup: Šimon Puršl averages 13.0 points and 6.0 rebounds for Opava.


Center posted 19 points against Tartu on 8/13 shooting from the field.


Nick McGlynn averages 12.7 points and 4.7 rebounds for Dziki.


Drake University star registered double-double against Spišski Rytieri.



National championships: BK Opava are 6-3 at the Kooperativa NBL.


Petr Czudek and his men defeated GBA Lions Jindrichuv Hradec, 111-80, on November 2.


Dziki Warszawa are 2-3 at the Orlen PLK.


Krzysztof Szablowski and his men dropped the home game against Gornik, 68-82, on November 2.



Know your referees

Crew chief: Jaroslav Pazourek (Czechia) – Kooperativa NBL referee from 2023, including one playoff game; has worked at the Scania Cup final in 2023 and 2024.


Umpire 1: Mateusz Skorek (Poland) – FIBA referee from 2021, PLK referee; has worked at the FIBA European U20 championship in division A; has worked at the inaugural ENBL Final Four in 2022.


Umpire 2: Robin Petrak (Czechia) – Kooperativa NBL referee from 2021, including a play-off game, has participated at the 2019 Kuba Zamojski`s referee camp in Radom and the 2020 Survival camp in Poland as well.


Observer: Oskars Lucis (Latvia).



ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube




Tartu Ulikool vs Valmiera Glass ViA


Series history: Tartu Ulikool (0-2) will face Valmiera Glass ViA (3-0) for the third time in the ENBL.


Tartu won both previous home games, 65-55 in the first season and 110-79 in the second season.


Valmiera boss Nikolajs Mazurs coached Tartu from 2021 until 2023.


Latvian club three weeks ago defeated Tartu, 89-87, at the Optibet Estonia and Latvia league home game.


All games from Estonia will be broadcasted via Facebook – please, see ENBL access below for more details.



Key matchup: Mason Bourcier posted 19 points and four assists in his first ENBL game for Tartu.


Canadian guard graduated Trinity Western University in 2023.


Jordan Watson averages 16.0 points and 3.3 assists for Valmiera.


West Liberty University star scored 36 points against Donar Groningen.



National championships: Tartu Ulikool are 3-3 at the Optibet Estonia and Latvia league.


Aivar Kuusmaa and his men are on a two game winning streak after away wins at Liepāja, 66-63, and Ventspils, 93-92.


Valmiera Glass ViA are 7-2 at the Estonia and Latvia league.


Only VEF Rīga and Kalev/Cramo have suffered less losses in this competition.


Nikolajs Mazurs and his men won at Keila KK, 94-71, on November 2.



Know your referees

Crew chief: Rainis Varv (Estonia) – FIBA referee from 2023, Estonia KML and Pafbet Estonia-Latvia league referee from 2017, has worked at the 2023 Pafbet Final 4.


Umpire 1: Juris Brūveris (Latvia) – one of the most experienced referees in Latvia, LBL referee for more than years, has worked at the 2021 EWBL final.


Umpire 2: Mart Uuehendrik (Estonia) – KML referee from 2002, FIBA referee from 2006, has worked at the 2018 FIBA EuroCup Women finals in Turkey and the 2022 ENBL Final Four.


Observer (on the spot): Mareks Voļskis (Latvia).



ENBL access: follow the game on Facebook Live




Newcastle Eagles vs Donar Groningen


Series history: Newcastle Eagles (2-0) will face Donar Groningen (0-3) for the first time in the ENBL.


Tyneside club won at Spišski Rytieri, 91-84, and defeated Spartak Pleven, 75-61, on the home floor.


Donar dropped both road games at Dziki Warszawa, 79-95, and Valmiera Glass ViA, 78-81.


Groningen also lost home opener against the 2024 ENBL finalist CSO Voluntari, 83-89.



Key matchup: Joshua Ward-Hibbert averages 13.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals for Newcastle.


British international wasn`t far from double-double in both ENBL games.


Zach Harvey averages 19.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.3 steals for Donar.


University of California at Santa Barbara standout scored 24 points at Valmiera on 4/7 shooting from the three point line.



National championships: Newcastle Eagles are 1-0 at the Super League Basketball regular season.


Marc Steutel and his men recently qualified for SLB Trophy semifinals.


The Eagles won at Caledonia Gladiators, 94-71, in their SLB opener on November 3.


Donar Groningen are 2-5 at the BNXT league.


Andrej Štimac and his men suffered a 68-95 defeat at Oostende on October 26.



Know your referees

Crew chief: Iain MacDonald (United Kingdom) – FIBA referee from 2017, British Basketball league referee from 2014.


Umpire 1: Mohamed Shouman (Netherlands) – Dutch first division referee from 2013, BNXT referee from 2021.


Umpire 2: Josh Bowe (United Kingdom) – FIBA referee from 2019, has worked at four British Basketball league finals and one Women`s British Basketball league final.


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



ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube


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