Four games scheduled on Tuesday, January 21. CSO Voluntari are hosting Valmiera Glass ViA. Donar Groningen will face Tartu Ulikool Maks&Moorits. Keila Coolbet are meeting Dinamo Bucharest, while Bamberg Baskets will cross the swords with Basket Brno.
Playoff implications: Valmiera Glass ViA will qualify with a win at CSO Voluntari. Bamberg Baskets will qualify with a success against Basket Brno.
CSO Voluntari vs Valmiera Glass ViA
Series history: CSO Voluntari (5-1) will face Valmiera Glass ViA (5-1) for the second time.
Voluntari lead the series 1-0, after a 92-78 road win on January 16, 2024.
CSO Voluntari are 3-0 on the home floor.
Ainars Bagatskis coached Valmiera almost 20 years ago.
Valmiera Glass ViA are 2-0 on the road.
Key matchup: Mike Caffey averages 10.8 points, 6.5 assists and 2.3 steals for Voluntari.
A former Long Beach State University point guard shoots 63.6 percent from the two point line and 42.9 percent from the three point line.
DaQuan Smith averages 14.7 points, 4.3 assists and 1.5 steals for Valmiera.
Radford University graduate shoots 42.9 percent from the two point line and 39.1 percent from the three point line.
National championships: CSO Voluntari are 14-3 at the Liga Nationala.
Oradea is first in the standings with a 15-1 record.
CSO Voluntari defeated Steaua Bucharest, 98-78, on January 17.
Valmiera Glass ViA share the fourth place at the Optibet Estonia and Latvia league with a 13-6 record.
Nikolajs Mazurs team unexpectedly dropped out of the Latvian cup, after a 62-78 home loss against Ventspils.
Valmiera won the first game on the road, 89-74, but lost the series, 151-153.
Vidzeme club leader Kahliel Spier was injured some time ago.
Team added Nigerian-Canadian shooting guard Mike Nuga and American big man Frankie Policelli.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Marius Ciulin (Romania) – FIBA referee from 2003; has worked at four EuroBaskets for Men and four EuroBaskets for Women; has worked at the EuroLeague Women Final Four twice and at the Basketball Champions league Final Four; one of the top FIBA referees.
Umpire 1: Juris Brūveris (Latvia) – one of the most experienced referees in Latvia; more than 10 years experience at the Latvian Basketball league; has worked at the 2021 European Women`s Basketball league final.
Umpire 2: Alin Faur (Romania) – Liga Nationala referee from 2000, FIBA referee from 2010, Balkan International basketball league referee 2013-2016.
Observer (at the video): Oskars Lucis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube
Donar Groningen vs Tartu Ulikool Maks&Moorits
Series history: Donar Groningen (2-4) will face Tartu Ulikool (1-5) for the first time.
Donar are 2-1 on the home floor, thanks to wins against Spišski Rytieri, 89-68, and Spartak Pleven, 87-84.
Canadian guard Keevan Veinot left the team on December 17, 2024, after operation on his shoulder.
Czech-Canadian center James Karnik left the team on December 9, 2024, due to personal reasons and may return at unspecified date.
Tartu Ulikool are 1-2 on the road.
Key matchup: Zach Harvey averages 17.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists for Donar.
University of California at Santa Barbara guard shoots 47.9% from the two point line and 36.4% from the three point line.
Martin Paasoja averages 9.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists for Tartu.
Experienced guard shoots 52.6% from the two point line and 44.4% from the three point line.
National championships: Donar Groningen are 5-11 at the BNXT league.
Donar suffered a 79-124 defeat at Kortrijk/Courtrai on January 17.
Tartu Ulikool share the fourth place at the Optibet Estonia and Latvia league with a 13-6.
Aivar Kuusmaa team defeated third ranked Kalev/Cramo, 84-79, on January 17, at the Estonian capital.
Know your referees
Crew chief: 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.
Umpire 1: Hendrik Laas (Estonia) – Estonian KML referee from 2016; last season worked at the Estonia and Latvia league Final Four, and Estonian finals.
Umpire 2: Stan Kestein (Netherlands) – BNXT league referee from 2018. Has worked at the BNXT league playoffs and the Dutch Cup finals. Has worked at the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 EWBL seasons, as well as the 2023-2024 ENBL season.
Observer (at the video): Oskars Lucis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube
Keila Coolbet vs Dinamo Bucharest
Series history: Keila Coolbet (1-4) will face Dinamo Bucharest (1-5) for the first time.
Keila Coolbet are 0-2 on the home floor.
Dinamo Bucharest are 0-3 on the road after losses at Bamberg Baskets, Bakken Bears and Bristol Flyers.
Key matchup: Artem Kovalov averages 19.4 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks for Keila Coolbet.
Ukrainian big man shoots 43.4 percent from the two point line and 22.2 percent from the three point line.
Aleksandar Marelja averages 7.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 0.7 blocks for Dinamo Bucharest.
Serbian big man shoots 55.0 percent from the two point line and 37.5 percent from the three point line.
National championships: Keila Coolbet are 7-11 at the Optibet Estonia and Latvia league.
Keila Coolbet are on a six game losing streak after a 79-84 defeat at Keila KK on January 18.
Peep Pahv and his men maintain a 1-1, +6 advantage against home town rivals.
Dinamo Bucharest are 6-11 at the Liga Nationala.
Romanian club are on a five game losing streak.
Dinamo Bucharest dropped the home game against Craiova, 67-87, on January 18.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Mihkel Manniste (Estonia) – KML referee from 2011, FIBA referee from 2017, Basketball Champions league referee from 2020, has worked at the Women`s EuroBasket 2021, EuroBasket 2022 and FIBA World Cup qualifiers; has worked at the 2021 FIBA U19 Women`s World Cup, the 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup and the 2024 FIBA U17 Women`s World Cup.
Umpire 1: Andras Mate Stretea (Romania) – a referee from 2012, Liga Nationala referee from 2016, FIBA referee from 2023.
Umpire 2: Erik Tserr (Estonia) – Optibet Estonia and Latvia basketball league referee from 2022.
Observer (at the gym): Mareks Voļskis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on Facebook
Bamberg Baskets vs Basket Brno
Series history: Bamberg Baskets (5-1) will face Basket Brno (2-3) for the first time.
Bamberg Baskets are 3-0 on the home floor.
Basket Brno are 2-0 on the road thanks to wins at Keila Coolbet and Dinamo Bucharest.
Key matchup: Ibrahim Watson-Boye averages 14.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists for Bamberg.
University of Dayton wing shoots 61.3% from the two point line and 43.8% from the three point line.
Ethan Chargois averages 19.6 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists for Brno.
The University of Oklahoma forward shoots 59.0% percent from the two point line and 35.3% from the three point line.
National championships: Bamberg Baskets are 6-10 at the Bundesliga, two wins behind the playoff zone.
Bamberg Baskets are on a three game losing streak after home losses against Ulm, 77-98, Hamburg, 80-83, and a 73-92 road failure at Ludwigsburg on January 12.
Anton Gavel and his men posted seven consecutive wins in December 2024.
Basket Brno share the second place at the Kooperativa NBL standings with a 16-6 record.
Brno won at Dečin, 80-78, on January 18.
Point guard Viktor Pulpan returned to Brno lineup after missing a game against Fyllingen Lions.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Dimitar Georgiev (Bulgaria) – Sesame NBL referee from 2017, FIBA referee from 2023.
Umpire 1: Rudolf Salvetr (Czechia) – Kooperativa NBL referee from 2015.
Umpire 2: Serafim Petrov (Bulgaria) – Sesame NBL referee from 2018, FIBA referee from 2021; has worked at many Bulgarian finals and the Bulgaria Supercup final.
Observer (at the video): Oskars Lucis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube
STANDINGS, as of January 20, 2025
Group A
Newcastle Eagles 6-1, +50 Qualified
Dziki Warszawa 5-2, +69 Qualified
CSO Voluntari 5-1, +116 Qualified
Valmiera Glass ViA 5-1, +62
BK Opava 4-3, -26
Donar Groningen 2-4, -6
Tartu Ulikool 1-5, -81
Spišski Rytieri 1-6, -106
Spartak Pleven 0-6, -78
Group B
Inter Bratislava 7-0, +40 Qualified
Bamberg Baskets 5-1, +66
Bakken Bears 4-3, +59
Legia Warszawa 4-2, +29
Bristol Flyers 3-4, +0
Basket Brno 2-3, +3
Keila Coolbet 1-4, -59
Dinamo Bucharest 1-5, -49
Fyllingen Lions 1-6, -89
Comments