Farewell to 2025: three games in Latvia, Bulgaria and Croatia

marisnoviks
2 hours ago
4 min read

Three games are to be played on Wednesday, December 17. Valmiera Glass ViA will host HEFTE HELFEN BULLS. Spartak Pleven will try to tie the all time series against visiting Newcastle Eagles. Dubrava Zagreb are hosting undefeated Iraklis BC.

Playoff implications: Iraklis BC will qualify for the 2026 playoffs with a win at Dubrava Zagreb.

Valmiera Glass ViA vs HEFTE HELFEN BULLS

Series history: Valmiera Glass ViA (3-1) will face HEFTE HELFEN BULLS (1-4) for the first time.

Valmiera Glass ViA are 2-0 on the home floor after wins over Fyllingen Lions, 93-75, on October 15, and CSO Voluntari, 81-77, on December 3.

Latvian team ended CSO Voluntari nine game winning streak two weeks ago.

HEFTE HELFEN BULLS are 0-2 on the road after road losses at TalTech/ALEXELA, 55-61, on October 8, and at Alkar Sinj, 65-81, on November 19.

National championships: Valmiera Glass ViA are 9-4 at the Optibet Estonia and Latvia league.

Valmiera lost at Tartu Ulikool, 81-86, on December 13.

Hefte Helfen Bulls are 9-3 at the Basketball Superliga.

The Bulls are on a two game winning streak after away successes at Furstenfeld, 90-74, on December 8, and at Traiskirchen, 83-69, on December 13.

Know your referees

Crew chief: Juris Brūveris (Latvia) – one of the most experienced referees in Latvia, LBL and ESTLAT league referee for more than 10 years; has worked at the 2021 European Women`s basketball league final, ENBL referee from 2023.

Umpire 1: Mihkel Manniste (Estonia) – KML Meistriliiga referee from 2011, FIBA referee from 2017, FIBA Elite from 2020; has worked at the Women`s EuroBasket 2021, 2023 and 2025, 2023 FIBA U19 Women`s World Cup, 2022 FIBA U17 Men`s World Cup, 2024 FIBA U17 Women`s World Cup, EuroBasket 2022 and 2025.

Umpire 2: Kristīne Simanoviča (Latvia) – FIBA referee from 2019, ENBL referee from 2022, regular EuroCup Women and EuroLeague Women referee.

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

ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzJQaev1haI

Live stats: https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/ENBL/2723311/

Spartak Pleven vs Newcastle Eagles

Series history: Spartak Pleven (2-3) will face Newcastle Eagles (0-3) for the second time.

Newcastle Eagles lead the series, 1-0, after a 75-61 home win on October 22, 2024.

Spartak Pleven are 2-1 on the home floor thanks to wins over Dubrava Zagreb, 83-82, on October 1, and Olomoucko, 91-84, on October 15.

They lost to Riga Zelli, 81-85, eight days ago.

Newcastle Eagles are 0-1 on the road after a 71-85 loss at Iraklis BC on November 5.

National championships: Spartak Pleven are 6-4 at the Sesame NBL.

Spartak Pleven lost at Rilski Sportist, 80-85, on December 14.

Newcastle Eagles are 4-7 at the Super League Basketball.

The Eagles are on a three game winning streak after a 80-68 success at the Sheffield Sharks on December 5.

Two wins at the SLB Trophy followed – first at the Caledonia Gladiators, 79-76, on December 7, and second against the Sheffield Sharks, 94-89, on December 12.

Know your referees

Crew chief: Serafim Petrov (Bulgaria) – Sesame NBL referee from 2018, FIBA referee from 2021; has worked at many Bulgarian finals and the Bulgaria Supercup final.

Umpire 1: Kushtrim Dvorani (Austria) – Austrian Superleague referee from 2021.

Umpire 2: Ivan Iliev (Bulgaria) – FIBA referee from 2025, Sesame NBL referee from 2021.

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

ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88p-8oOa55o

Live stats: https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/ENBL/2723312/

Dubrava Zagreb vs Iraklis BC

Series history: Dubrava Zagreb (2-3) will face Iraklis BC (4-0) for the first time.

Dubrava Zagreb are 2-0 on the home floor thanks to wins over Go+ Peja, 98-83, on October 22, and Riga Zelli, 86-74, on November 11.

Iraklis BC are 2-0 on the road after two away wins at Riga Zelli, 78-69, on October 29, and at Newcastle, 108-80, on December 3.

Thessaloniki team has a 99-79 record in European competitions.

National championships: Dubrava Zagreb are 3-8 at the Premijer Liga.

Dubrava suffered a 80-86 home loss at the hands of Cedevita Junior team on December 14.

Iraklis BC are 4-5 at the Stoiximan Greek Basketball league.

Iraklis won six consecutive games in all competitions before falling at the hands of Aris, 80-82, on December 13.

Know your referees

Crew chief: Boris Hartman (Croatia) – referee from 2015, ABA league referee 2019-2024, WABA league referee from 2019 (including one Final Four), Premijer liga referee from 2018.

Umpire 1: Aleksei Mohov (Estonia) – KML Meistriliiga referee from 2011, has worked at many Estonian playoffs and finals.

Umpire 2: Fran Stefan Andric (Croatia) – Premijer liga referee from 2024, potential FIBA referee.

Observer (at the video): Paul Valentin (Austria).

ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g6E6tAnH7E

Live stats: https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/ENBL/2723313/

ENBL standings as of December 16, 2025 | without tie-breakers

CSO Voluntari 5-1, +81 Q

Syntainics MBC 4-0, +107

Iraklis BC 4-0, +54

Dziki Warszawa 4-1, +94

Tindastoll 4-1, +64