Two games await in Group B as the holiday season close in. Tartu Ülikool Maks&Moorits will host the Bristol Flyers on Tuesday, December 19. Uniclub Casino Juventus Utena will play against the Svendborg Rabbits on Wednesday.
Tartu Ülikool Maks&Moorits vs Bristol Flyers
Series history: Tartu Ülikool Maks&Moorits and Bristol Flyers will face each other for the first time.
Key matchup: Märt Rosenthal leads Tartu with 19.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game.
Shooting guard has averaged 25.7 points in last three games.
Kristjan Kitsing (12.4), Rinalds Mālmanis (11.3) and Johnny Vantes Hughes III (10.6) also have scored in double figures.
Tevin Olison (Youngstown State 2022) averages 14.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists for the Bristol Flyers.
He hasn`t missed a single game at the British Basketball league.
Brad Greene (University of California at Irvine 2021) posted 27 points and 14 rebounds in a road win against Newcastle Eagles.
National championships: Tartu has a 10-5 record at the Pafbet Estonia and Latvia league.
Gundars Vētra men share the fourth place with Rīgas Zeļļi.
Kalev/Cramo occupy the pole position (12-1), followed by a Rīga based Prometey (11-1) and VEF Rīga (11-4).
Tartu players are on a 3-0 streak at home after wins over Rapla, Keila and Parnu.
The Tartu state-of-the-art gym is named after Ilmar Kullam (1922-2011).
The Bristol Flyers are 10-10 at the British Basketball league.
Newcastle Eagles also have 10 wins but in 19 games.
The London Lions are far above the rest of the field with a 19-3 record.
Caledonia Gladiators (12-6) and Cheshire Phoenix (12-7) chase for the second place.
The Bristol Flyers are 2-1 in December games.
They defeated B. Braun Sheffield Sharks on the home floor, 78-76, and overpowered Newcastle Eagles on the road, 89-71.
The Flyers suffered a 80-103 defeat at the hands of Manchester Giants on December 14.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Rainis Vārv (Estonia) – Pafbet Estonia and Latvia league referee from 2017, has worked at the 2023 Pafbet league Final Four.
Umpire 1: Jonpaul Heron (United Kingdom) – Basketball England referee from 2010, British Basketball league referee from 2020.
Umpire 2: Aleksei Mohov (Estonia) – top Estonian division from 2011, has worked many times at the Estonian playoffs and finals.
Observer: Oskars Lucis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube live stream
Uniclub Casino Juventus vs Svendborg Rabbits
Series history: Uniclub Casino Juventus and Svendborg Rabbits will face each other for the first time.
Key matchup: Billy Ivey averages 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists in the LKL.
A San Jose State University guard hits 56.9% from the two point line and 44.0% from the deep.
Jaedon Elliott Willis leads Svendborg Rabbits with 17.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 5.7 assists.
National championships: Uniclub Casino Juventus share the fourth place at the LKL standings with Lietkabelis Panevežys.
Both teams are 8-5.
Žalgiris and Rytas Vilnius (12-2) are locked in a battle for the top spot.
Wolves Vilnius occupy the third place with a 11-3 record.
Utena has a 5-3 record on the home floor with losses against Žalgiris, Rytas and Lietkabelis.
Svendborg Rabbits recently improved to 11-2 at the Basketligaen.
They defeated Copenhagen, 78-64, on December 14.
The Bakken Bears are 11-0.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Aurimas Borusas (Lithuania) – a Top 10 referee from Lithuania, LKL referee from 2015, FIBA referee from 2019.
Umpire 1: Skirmantas Letukas (Denmark) – FIBA referee from 2021, Denmark Basketball highest leagues from 2017.
Umpire 2: Jozas Lazauskas (Lithuania) – LKL referee from 2022, has worked at the MLKL playoffs and the Lithuanian second division Final Four.
Observer: Oskars Lucis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube live stream