Bright lights and great atmosphere await fans at two home openers on Wednesday, October 23. Tartu Ulikool Maks&Moorits will meet BK Opava, while Donar Groningen are hosting the 2024 ENBL finalists CSO Voluntari.
Tartu Ulikool vs BK Opava
Series history: Tartu Ulikool (0-1) will face Opava (1-0) for the first time.
Aivar Kuusmaa and his men fell at the hands of Spišski Rytieri on the road, 87-91.
Opava debuted in the ENBL on September 30, outscoring Spartak Pleven, 83-68, on the home floor.
Key matchup: Martin Paasoja averages 15.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists for Tartu.
Experienced guard scored 26 points in a home win over Rīgas Zeļļi.
Jakub Širina averages 9.5 points, 2.2 rebounds and 6.5 assists for Opava.
A point guard, born on November 21, 1987, averaged 8.7 assists in last three games.
National championships: Tartu Ulikool are 1-2 at the Estonia and Latvia league.
Estonians faced three strongest Latvian teams early in the season.
Tartu lost at VEF Rīga, 71-74, and Valmiera, 87-89, and then defeated Rīgas Zeļļi, 77-71, at home on Friday, October 18.
BK Opava are 3-3 at the Kooperativa NBL.
They defeated Sršni Photomate Pisek, 97-68, on Sunday, October 20.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Ivo Kitsing (Estonia) – have been officiating from 2007; first Baltic Basketball league game on November 14, 2014; first Estonian league final on May 24, 2018; FIBA referee from 2023.
Umpire 1: Jaroslav Pazourek (Czechia) – Kooperativa NBL referee from 2023, including one playoff game; has worked at the Scania Cup final in 2023 and 2024.
Umpire 2: Egert Tiidor (Estonia) – a referee from 2015, Optibet Estonia and Latvia league referee from 2020, by being only 21 years old then; has worked at the ESTLAT and Estonian playoffs.
Observer (at the video): Mareks Voļskis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on Facebook Live
Donar Groningen vs CSO Voluntari
Series history: Donar Groningen (0-2) will face CSO Voluntari (1-0) for the first time.
Donar lost at Legia Warszawa and Valmiera early in the season.
CSO Voluntari defeated Dziki Warszawa in a home opener.
Key matchup: Keevan Veinot averages 21.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists for Donar.
Guard from Nova Scotia, Canada graduated Dalhousie University in 2021.
Mike Caffey averages 12.2 points, 2.0 rebounds and 5.4 assists for CSO Voluntari.
California guard graduated Long Beach State University in 2015.
National championships: Donar Groningen are 2-4 at the BNXT league.
Donar are 1-2 on the home floor and posted a 72-62 win over BAL Weert on October 12.
Andrej Štimac and his men lost at Den Helder, 68-79, on October 19.
CSO Voluntari are 3-2 at the Liga Nationala.
Ainars Bagatskis and his men defeated Ploiesti CSM, 98-63, on Friday, October 18.
Voluntari are 1-1 on the road.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Bert Van Slooten (Netherlands) – a referee at the Dutch league from 2001, FIBA referee from 2005.
Umpire 1: Andreas Mate Stretea (Romania) – a referee from 2012, Liga Nationala referee from 2016, FIBA referee from 2023.
Umpire 2: Yermo Abrahams (Netherlands) – a referee from 2016, BNXT league referee from 2022.
Observer: Oskars Lucis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube
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