2026 quarterfinals: decisive games in Thessaloniki and Zagreb
- marisnoviks
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
The 2026 ENBL quarterfinals continue on Wednesday, April 1, with two games in Greece and Croatia. The two time Greece champions Iraklis BC will face Dziki Warszawa. Dinamo Zagreb will host the 2026 Super League Basketball Cup finalists Manchester Basketball.
Iraklis BC vs Dziki Warszawa
Playoff experience: Dziki Warszawa return to the ENBL quarterfinals a year after a famous win against the nine time German champions – and, more recently, 2026 German Cup winners – Bamberg Baskets.
Dziki Warszawa defeated Valmiera Glass ViA in the round of 16 game, 97-84, capped by Ricchi e Poveri classic hit Sara perche ti amo (it`s because I love you).
Iraklis BC have qualified to the ENBL playoffs for the first time.
Second seeded Thessaloniki team prevailed over TalTech/ALEXELA in the round of 16 game, 76-63.
The winners of the best-of-two home and away series will advance to the Final Four where they will face the best team in a duel between CSO Voluntari and Riga Zelli.
Series history: Iraklis BC (8-2) will face Dziki Warszawa (7-3) for the third time.
Iraklis BC won the regular season game at the Ivanofeio sports hall, 87-75, on January 7, 2026.
Dziki Warszawa defeated Iraklis BC, 89-82, in the game one of the quarterfinal series on March 18, at the Hala Kolo.
Tahlik Chavez went 7/12 from the three point line, tying a fourth best result in ENBL history.
A solid group of Thessaloniki fans traveled to the Polish capital to support their team.
Iraklis BC have a 103-81 record in European competitions.
Iraklis BC are 5-0 on the home floor.
Dziki Warszawa are 2-2 on the road.
National championships: Iraklis BC are 8-13 at the Greek Basketball league, tied in the seventh place with Mykonos.
Iraklis BC lost against Maroussi, 72-91, on March 29.
DJ Funderburk scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
The hosts shot 20.6 percent from the three point line, 7/34.
Dziki Warszawa are 13-11 at the Orlen PLK, tied in the seventh place with Dabrowa Gornicza and Gornik.
The Wild lost capital derby against Legia Warszawa, 88-95, on March 28.
Darnell Edge and Landrius Horton scored 16 points each.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Marius Ciulin (Romania) – FIBA referee from 2003, one of the Top FIBA referees, has worked at four EuroBaskets, four Women`s EuroBaskets, two EuroLeague Women Final Fours, one Basketball Champions league Final Four, the 2025 ENBL Final Four.
Umpire 1: Ngadhnjim Shabani (Kosovo) – FIBA referee from 2021, active referee in the Kosovo Super League from 2016; has worked at the ENBL 2022-2023, the Balkan International Basketball league, and the Unique league (Albania and Kosovo).
Umpire 2: Bartlomiej Kucharski (Poland) – Orlen PLK referee from 2016, FIBA referee from 2021; has worked at the 2023 Polish Cup final and 2023 Orlen PLK finals, 2022 and 2023 ENBL Final Four referee.
Observer (at the video): Oskars Lucis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on Youtube
Dinamo Zagreb vs Manchester Basketball
Playoff experience: both teams have qualified to the ENBL playoffs for the first time.
Manchester Basketball advanced to the playoffs with a 6-2 record and secured a 94-92 win over Dubrava Zagreb in the Round of 16 home game.
Dinamo Zagreb made it to the playoffs with a 6-2 record and advanced to the quarterfinals with a walkover win against SIGAL Prishtina.
The winners of the best-of-two home and away series will advance to the Final Four where they will face the 2025 German Cup winners SYNTAINICS MBC.
Series history: Dinamo Zagreb (6-3) will face Manchester Basketball (8-2) for the third time.
Manchester Basketball won at Dinamo Zagreb, 91-88, on February 3, 2026.
Manchester Basketball also prevailed in the game one of the quarterfinal series, 86-84, on March 25, at the National Basketball Performance Centre.
Dinamo Zagreb have a 6-3 record because the Round of 16 walkover win against SIGAL Prishtina is not added to the official classification.
Dinamo Zagreb are 3-1 on the home floor.
Manchester Basketball are 3-1 on the road.
National championships: Dinamo Zagreb are 10-15 at the Premijer liga and in the eighth place.
Dinamo Zagreb lost at Zadar, 79-99, on March 29.
DeLonnie Hunt had 16 points and three steals.
Manchester Basketball are 16-10 at the Super League Basketball and in the third place.
Manchester Basketball won at the Newcastle Eagles, 120-93, on March 27, and then defeated the Leicester Riders, 89-86, on March 29.
PJay Smith and Max Jones combined for 53 points in a home win.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Bogna Podkowinska (Poland) – Basket Liga Kobiet referee from 2018, Orlen PLK referee from 2022, FIBA referee from 2023, ENBL referee from 2023, has worked at the Alpe Adria Cup (AAC) from 2018.
Umpire 1: Marko Stankovic (Croatia) – twelve seasons at the Premijer liga, has worked at numerous Croatian finals, ABA2 league referee 2016-2022.
Umpire 2: Chris Dodds (United Kingdom) – former FIBA referee (18 seasons) with 24 seasons experience in British professional men`s league.
Observer (at the video): Oskars Lucis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on Youtube
2026 quarterfinals | local time | CET
Tuesday, March 17
(8)Donar Groningen 81-100 SYNTAINICS MBC (1)
Wednesday, March 18
(7) Dziki Warszawa 89-82 Iraklis BC (2)
Wednesday, March 25
(5)Manchester Basketball 86-84 Dinamo Zagreb (4)
(1)SYNTAINICS MBC 80-73 Donar Groningen (8)
Series won by SYNTAINICS MBC, 180-154
Wednesday, April 1
19:45 | 18:45 (2)Iraklis BC – Dziki Warszawa (7)
19:00 | 19:00 (4)Dinamo Zagreb – Manchester Basketball (5)
Sunday, April 5
18:00 | 17:00 (11)Riga Zelli – CSO Voluntari (3)
Thursday, April 9
19:00 | 18:00 (3)CSO Voluntari – Riga Zelli (11)
April 22-23, Final Four
Location to be confirmed in the first days of April
2026 ENBL playoffs and bracket
Live blog: the playoffs are coming
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