2026 playoffs opener: Dziki Warszawa to host Valmiera Glass ViA

marisnoviks
10h
3 min read

The 2025 ENBL bronze medalists Dziki Warszawa will host the 2026 Latvian Cup winners Valmiera Glass ViA in the single elimination game on Wednesday, March 4, at the Hala Kolo in the Polish capital. The winners will face the best team in a duel between Iraklis BC and TalTech/ALEXELA.

Playoff experience: both teams have repeatedly qualified for the ENBL playoffs (2025, 2026).

Dziki Warszawa last year eliminated the nine time Germany champions Bamberg Baskets in the best-of-two home and away quarterfinal series, and later earned the bronze medal at the 2025 Glasora Final Four in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Valmiera Glass ViA qualified for the ENBL playoffs in their fourth attempt and lost the quarterfinal series against Slovan Bratislava (then Inter Bratislava).

Series history: Dziki Warszawa (5-3) will face Valmiera Glass ViA (5-3) for the first time.

Dziki Warszawa are 3-1 on the home floor after three consecutive wins against Go+ Peja, Dubrava Zagreb and Spartak Pleven.

Valmiera Glass ViA are 2-2 on the road after a 92-88 success at Donar Groningen and a key 99-90 win at TalTech/ALEXELA.

National championships: Dziki Warszawa are 12-8 at the Orlen Basket Liga and in the sixth position overall.

King Szczecin lead the table with a 14-6 record, followed by Slask Wroclaw (13-5), the 2026 Polish Cup winner Trefl Sopot, Legia Warszawa (both 13-7) and Arka Gdynia (12-7).

Valmiera Glass ViA won the 2026 Latvia Cup on Saturday, February 21, defeating a 10 time Latvian champion Ventspils, 84-70, and earning the first trophy in team`s history.

Valmiera was led to triumph by a first year coach and the 2013 European U20 vice-champion Kaspars Vecvagars, assisted by Gunārs Gailītis and Normunds Lišiks, captained by Artis Ate.

Point guard Dominykas Stenionis was named the Most Valuable Player.

Boxscore https://lbk.basket.lv/kalendars/?%7Ew=f%7EeJwVyzEKwzAMQNGrBM0R2IprSzlD5u6qZUMgm02Hltw9aPzw_h8G7AtksVxaECwtE8bYAzJTwu0jXAs1IU2wLnA5vr54vL26FzeuuatgMDZfI3I1QnqlkmxT0i6Of47H1HmOedYB9wM5hB-X

Valmiera Glass ViA are 16-6 at the Estonia and Latvia basketball league.

Both teams are returning to play after a National team break.

Know your referees

Crew chief: Romana Rea Car (Austria) – Austrian Basketball Superliga referee from 2020, FIBA referee from 2021, ENBL referee from 2025.

Umpire 1: Bartlomiej Kucharski (Poland) – PLK referee from 2016, FIBA referee from 2021; has worked at the 2023 PLK finals and the 2023 Polish Cup finals; has worked at the 2022 and 2023 ENBL Final Four.

Umpire 2: Andris Aunkrogers (Latvia) – FIBA referee from 2005, has worked at many major events, including the 2019 FIBA World Cup, the 2023 FIBA World Cup, EuroBasket 2022, EuroBasket 2025, Elite and Basketball Champions league referee from 2016; has worked at the 2022 and 2025 ENBL finals.

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

ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htWmthGHJfk

Live stats: https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/ENBL/2815175/

2026 ENBL playoffs | local time | CET

Wednesday, March 4

19:00 | 19:00 (7) Dziki Warszawa – Valmiera Glass ViA (10)

Tuesday, March 10

19:00 | 18:00 (3) CSO Voluntari – Slovan Bratislava (14)

19:30 | 19:30 (8) Donar Groningen – BK Opava (9)

19:00 | 20:00 (5) Manchester Basketball – Dubrava Zagreb (12)

Wednesday, March 11