Wednesday, January 24, offers two showdowns in Lithuania and Denmark. Uniclub Casino Juventus Utena will face Tartu Ülikool Maks&Moorits, while the Svendborg Rabbits will host the Bristol Flyers.
Uniclub Casino Juventus Utena vs Tartu Ülikool Maks&Moorits
Series history: Uniclub Casino Juventus Utena and Tartu Ülikool Maks&Moorits will face each other for the first time.
Key matchup: Šarūnas Beniušis averages 12.2 points and 4.6 rebounds for the Uniclub Casino Juventus.
He has a highest efficiency rating in the team after Billy Ivey departed to Girona in the ACB league.
Mart Rosenthal averages 13.7 points and 7.0 assists in the ENBL for Tartu.
Rosenthal had 16 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists against Polski Cukier Start Lublin.
National championships: Uniclub Casino Juventus Utena are 12-5 at the Betsafe LKL.
Utena occupies the third place in the standings, thanks to a 1-1 and +22 record against the Vilnius Wolves.
The Wolves recently parted ways with a 2023 ENBL finalist Kestutis Kemzūra.
Not Juventus, not Wolves qualified for the King Mindaugas Cup Final 4.
Šiauliai did it along with Žalgiris Kaunas, Rytas Vilnius and Lietkabelis Panevežys.
Uniclub Casino Juventus are 2-0 in the ENBL home games.
Tartu Ülikool Maks&Moorits are 13-6 in the Pafbet Estonia and Latvia league.
Gundars Vētra men have won three out of the last four matches, including a 83-41 victory over the Svendborg Rabbits.
Tartu defeated Liepāja on the road, 84-78, and then trashed Viimsi at home, 76-24.
The Estonians are 1-1 in the ENBL road games after a Monday loss at Start Lublin, 75-85.
Both teams have qualified for the playoffs.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Gabrielius Simonavicius (Lithuania) – FIBA referee from 2023, LKL referee from 2020; has worked at the 2023 Betsafe Women`s Baltic Basketball league Final 4 and the 2023 ENBL Final 4.
Umpire 1: Ivo Kitsing (Estonia) – have been officiating from 2007, first top league game on November 14, 2014 (Baltic Basketball league), FIBA referee from 2023.
Umpire 2: Dovydas Kairys (Lithuania) – LKL referee from 2022; has worked at the 2022 NKL Final 4 and the European Women`s Basketball league (EWBL).
Observer: Oskars Lucis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube live stream
Svendborg Rabbits vs Bristol Flyers
Series history: Svendborg Rabbits and Bristol Flyers will face each other for the first time.
Key matchup: Hameir Wright averages 13.8 points and 7.3 rebounds for the Bristol Rabbits.
He shoots 48.9% from the field.
Brad Greene averages 15.5 points and 8.8 rebounds for the Flyers.
Big man shoots 64.2% from the field.
National championships: Svendborg Rabbits are 13-3 at the Basketligaen.
They have the same record as Horsens and Naestved.
The Rabbits are 2-0 against Horsens and 1-0 against Naestved.
Svendborg has a 1-2 record in the ENBL home games.
Bristol Flyers are 11-10 in the British Basketball league.
London Lions lead the table with a 22-3 record, followed by the Caledonia Gladiators (13-8) and Cheshire Phoenix (12-8).
Bristol recently played four games at the BBL Trophy, finishing a 2024 campaign with a 2-2 record.
Andreas Kapoulas men lost at the Leicester Riders, 75-95, and to the Newcastle Eagles, 82-84.
The Flyers rebounded with two wins over the Manchester Giants, 105-80, and the London Lions, 94-72.
Rowell Graham-Bell sustained a serious ankle injury. Raphell Thomas-Edwards and Leslee Smith also did not dressed in the last game.
The London Lions will face the Caledonia Gladiators in the first semifinal, while the Cheshire Phoenix will meet the Leicester Riders on January 27 at the Utilita arena in Birmingham.
The Flyers are 2-1 in the ENBL home games.
Bristol has a 2-0 record against rivals from Lublin and Zwolle but need one more win to qualify.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Skirmantas Letukas (Denmark) – FIBA referee from 2021, Denmark top leagues from 2017.
Umpire 1: Christian Hansen (Denmark) – FIBA referee from 2021, Denmark Basketball highest leagues from 2015.
Umpire 2: Jonas Bille (Denmark) – a referee from 1987, Basketligaen referee from 1996, FIBA referee 2003-2022.
Observer: Oskars Lucis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube live stream