Dziki Warszawa set records to clinch first title, MVP – Landrius Horton
- marisnoviks
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
Dziki Warszawa scored the most points in one quarter and set a new Final Four scoring record to defeat courageous Manchester Basketball, 109-97, and win the 2026 European North Basketball league title. Landrius Horton was named ENBL VIMODROM Final Four MVP.
First quarter, 26-23
Manchester Basketball started red hot from the three point line, as PJay Smith, Max Jones and Donovan Mitchell sank three shots in less than three minutes of play for a 11-3 lead.
Dziki Warszawa missed most of their shots during the first seven minutes and went 1/8 from the deep.
The Wild finally got into the groove after a steal by Landrius Horton and his alley-oop pass for high flying Bennett Vander Plas, 18-15.
Tahlik Chavez tied the game at 18 but Manchester answered with two consecutive three pointers by PJay Smith and Max Jones, 24-18.
Landrius Horton and Tahlik Chavez were quick to respond. British club, however, maintained a one possession lead.
Second quarter, 25-37 (51-60)
Max Jones was the first to score in double digits as he made his third three pointer and added two points from the charity stripe, 31-23.
Rivaldo Soares received a technical foul with 7.12 left in the first half.
Max Jones sank a free throw but ball possession ended with a turnover and two consecutive threes by Bennett Vander Plas, 36-35.
Super energetic Tahlik Chavez gave Dziki Warszawa their first lead with 4.55 to go in the first half, 41-42.
Moments later he got a technical foul and Max Jones tied the game at 42.
Dziki Warszawa renewed offensive and went on a 2-12 run.
Hard working Landrius Horton made first three pointer in his fifth attempt to present a first double digit lead for the Wild, 44-54.
Max Jones made a number of trips to the free throw line to limit the damage and to finish the first half with 22 points, 51-60.
Third quarter, 18-23 (69-83)
After making 19 three point field goal shooting attempts in the first half, Dziki Warszawa focused their attention inside.
Lukasz Frackiewicz reigned in the paint, scoring six points in a short time.
Dynamic trio of Dziki guards – Darnell Edge, Tahlik Chavez and Landrius Horton – rocked the floor.
Gabe Osabuohien, defensive rock of Manchester Basketball, fouled out.
Dziki experienced some foul trouble too – Rivaldo “Waldo” Soares received four fouls in the first half, Lukasz Frackiewicz ended the third quarter with four fouls.
Fourth quarter, 28-26 (97-109)
Rivaldo Soares scored six quick points before fouling out with 7.28 left.
Max Jones reached 30 points plateau immediately after, making three consecutive free throws, 77-91.
PJay Smith added a three from the right corner to cut the gap to 11 points, 80-91.
Max Jones and PJay Smith combined for four more points with 5.41 to go, 84-93.
Maria (I like it loud) by Scooter blasted from the speakers during the timeout requested by Coach Lego.
The ball rimmed out of the basket after Max Jones made a pass to PJay Smith.
A coach challenge followed.
Tim Adetukasi finished the possession with two points for Manchester Basketball, 86-93.
Tahlik Chavez made a three from the left corner, 86-96.
Lukasz Franckiewicz fouled out with 3.54 left.
Max Jones tied a Final Four scoring record set by Isaiah Cousins in 2025 – he had 36 points with 3.11 to go.
Darnell Edge drived to the basket to tie a Final Four scoring record with 42.1 seconds left, 97-107.
The Wild deserved a wild celebration – and they enjoyed it to the fullest.
Game notes
Dziki Warszawa won the first European title in club`s nine year long history, a year after a bronze medal finish in Bratislava.
Coach Lego and The Wild posted a 10-3 record, including a perfect 5-0 in the 2026 playoffs.
Dziki Warszawa became the third club from Poland to lift the ENBL trophy, after Anwil Wloclawek did it in 2022 and Stal Ostrow in 2023.
SYNTAINICS MBC loaned their drums for Manchester Basketball supporters in an act of true sports friendship.
Max Jones scored 22 points in the first half – second best result in the Final Four history after EJ Anosike had 24 points in 2024.
Dziki Warszawa posted 37 points in the second quarter, setting a new Final Four record and surpassing a 35 points salvo by CSO Voluntari in a 2025 semifinal against Inter Bratislava.
Captain Grzegorz Grochowski cut the net with a help from Ody Oguama.
Dziki Warszawa set a new Final Four scoring record – 109 points.
All Star team
Solomon Young (CSO Voluntari), Donovan Mitchell (Manchester Basketball), Tahlik Chavez (Dziki Warszawa), Max Jones (Manchester Basketball), Khyri Thomas (SYNTAINICS MBC)
MVP
Landrius Horton (Dziki Warszawa)
Final Four host award
Martin Geissler, SYNTAINICS MBC
2026 Final Four schedule, Central European Time
Wednesday, April 22, semifinals
CSO Voluntari 80-87 Dziki Warszawa
SYNTAINICS MBC 86-89 Manchester Basketball
Thursday, April 23, medal games
SYNTAINICS MBC 92-76 CSO Voluntari
Manchester Basketball 97-109 Dziki Warszawa
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