British teams touring Latvia and Norway on Wednesday

marisnoviks
12 hours ago
3 min read

Two games are to be played on Wednesday, January 21. The 2026 Latvian Cup semifinalists Riga Zelli will host the most titled British club – Newcastle Eagles. Gimle Basket are facing Manchester Basketball.

Playoff implications: Manchester Basketball will qualify for the playoffs with a win at Gimle Basket.

Riga Zelli vs Newcastle Eagles

Series history: Riga Zelli (3-3) will face Newcastle Eagles (1-4) for the first time.

Riga Zelli are 0-2 on the home after losses against Iraklis at Komandu Sporta spēļu halle and against BK Olomoucko at Saldus.

The game against Newcastle has been re-located from the state-of-the-art Komandu Sporta spēļu halle to historic Daugava Sports hall across the street.

Newcastle Eagles are 0-2 on the road after setbacks at Iraklis BC and Spartak Pleven.

National championships: Riga Zelli are 14-4 at the Optibet Estonia and Latvia league.

Men in Pink posted 14 consecutive wins from October 8 until December 21, capped by a 80-77 success against VEF Rīga.

Three losses followed against Tartu, 76-78, at Valmiera Glass ViA, 103-121, and at Ventspils, 95-100, on January 13.

Riga Zelli re-grouped and won the 2026 Latvian Cup quarterfinal series against BK Liepāja.

They will face Valmiera Glass ViA in a home and away semifinal series.

Newcastle Eagles are 6-12 at the Super League Basketball.

The 2025 ENBL finalists lost against Bristol Flyers, 83-85, on January 16, and at Manchester Basketball, 98-102, on January 18.

Know your referees

Crew chief: Kristīne Simanoviča (Latvia) – FIBA referee from 2019, ENBL referee from 2022, regular EuroCup Women and EuroLeague Women referee.

Umpire 1: Bence Szilvagyi (United Kingdom) – Super League Basketball referee from 2023.

Umpire 2: Dāvis Graudiņš (Latvia) – Latvian Cup referee from 2020, Latvia and Estonia league referee from 2024, ENBL referee from 2024, has attended FIBA Baltic Sea Cup clinic in 2022.

Observer (on the spot): Mareks Voļskis (Latvia).

ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrEvrgvwl14

Live stats: https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/ENBL/2723328/

Gimle Basket vs Manchester Basketball

Series history: Gimle Basket (1-6) will face Manchester Basketball (4-2) for the first time.

Gimle Basket are 1-2 on the home floor.

Their first ENBL win came on October 29, 2025, after Elias Demoniere hit a game winner against Keila Coolbet, 76-75.

Manchester Basketball are 1-1 on the road after a 79-66 success at Brussels Basketball and a 96-100 loss at Tindastoll.

National championships: Gimle Basket top the BLNO table with a 15-3 record.

Gimle dropped recent home game against Baerum, 76-81, on January 17.

Manchester Basketball are 9-7 at the Super League Basketball.

They defeated Newcastle Eagles, 102-98, on January 18.

Know your referees

Crew chief: Sturla Sand (Norway) – national referee from 2007, FIBA referee 2017-2023.

Umpire 1: Jonathan Vickerstaff (United Kingdom) – referee from 2002, National league referee from 2006, BBL/SLB referee from 2017.

Umpire 2: Simon Nordeide (Norway) – refereed three years in Australia, 2010-2013, at the QBL, second highest level in Australia; national referee in Norway from 2009, including finals in 2022 and 2023, semifinals in 2024; has worked at the Nordic Championship four times.

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

ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1qM7i0_VEs

Live stats: https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/ENBL/2723327/

ENBL standings as of January 20, 2026 | without tie-breakers

Syntainics MBC 6-0, +126 Q

Iraklis BC 6-1, +103 Q

CSO Voluntari 6-1, +86 Q

Dinamo Zagreb 5-1, +23 Q

Dziki Warszawa 5-2, +99 Q

Tindastoll 5-2, +64 Q

BK Opava 5-2, +42 Q