CSO Voluntari and Royal Liège Basket may share the first two places in Group B, if both teams defend their home courts on Wednesday, December 13. Romanian team has won six straight games at Sala Gabriela Szabo.
CSO Voluntari vs Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles
Series history: CSO Voluntari and Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles will face each other for the first time.
Key matchup: Rashard Marque Odomes leads CSO Voluntari in scoring (18.0 points) and efficiency (20.8).
Alaskan guard/forward scored 26 points at Cluj.
He averages 4.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists.
Newcastle point guard Jordan Johnson has 18.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists.
Shooting guard Rickey McGill averages 17.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.8 assists.
National championships: CSO Voluntari Baschet registered nine consecutive wins in all competitions.
The streak was halted on December 8, after a 85-88 loss at Cluj.
Ainars Bagatskis men have an 8-3 record at the Liga Nationala, trailing only to Cluj-Napoca.
CSO Voluntari won last six games at Sala Gabriela Szabo, including a 89-68 success against Liège Basket.
Romanian team eyes the fourth consecutive win in the ENBL.
The Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles are 9-9 at the British Basketball league.
London Lions occupy the top position with a 17-3 record.
Marc Steutel`s men lost last two home matches against Surrey Scorchers and Bristol Flyers.
The Eagles are on a 2-0 streak in the ENBL and have a 1-1 record on the road.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Marius Ciulin (Romania) – FIBA referee from 2003; has worked at EuroBasket (four times), EuroBasket Women (four times), EuroLeague Women Final 4 (twice), Basketball Champions league Final 4.
Umpire 1: Josh Bowe (Great Britain) – FIBA referee from 2019; has worked at the FIBA Youth Championships in Bulgaria, Romania and Andorra; has worked at the BBL finals from 2017.
Umpire 2: Banica Matei (Romania) – top division in Romania from 2020, a potential FIBA referee; has worked at the Romanian finals for Men and Women.
Observer: Oskars Lucis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube live stream
Royal Liège Basket vs Valmiera Glass ViA
Series history: Royal Liège Basket and Valmiera Glass ViA will face each other for the first time.
Key matchup: Emmanuel Lecomte averages 16.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists for Liège Basket.
Avelon John Junior leads the team in scoring with 17.0 points.
Valmiera big man Guntis Sīpoliņš averages 12.6 points and 9.2 rebounds.
Edmunds Elksnis has 12.0 points and a team high 5.3 assists.
National championships: Royal Liège Basket has a 6-5 record at the BNXT league.
Liège shares the fifth place with Brussels Basketball and Kangoeroes Basket Mechelen.
Filou Oostende is in a top position with nine wins.
Valmiera Glass ViA registered one win in November – at the Latvian Cup game.
Oskars Virsis men won at Kandava/Anzāģe, 99-79, on November 28.
Eight days later Valmiera ended losing streak at the Pafbet league, defeating TalTech Optibet, 78-67.
Valmiera had a chance to post another win on Sunday, December 10, but suffered a 82-96 defeat at Viimsi.
Latvian team recently parted ways with Taeshon Paul Cherry.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Tom De Lange (Belgium) – FIBA referee from 2017, Belgian top division from 2010; has worked at many Belgian finals, BNXT finals and Belgian Cup finals.
Umpire 1: Oskars Lucis (Latvia) – FIBA referee 2003-2023; Euroleague referee 2007-2016.
Umpire 2: Andy Vanderheyden (Belgium) – referee from 1996, Belgian top division from 2011.
Observer: Mareks Voļskis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube live stream