Graphic: Mārtiņš Zaļūksnis
BM Stal Ostrów will face Polski Cukier Start Lublin on Tuesday, April 11, at the Arena Ostrów in Poland. Tipoff at 19:00.
Quick facts
BM Stal Ostrów finished second in the Group B, thanks to a positive three way tie against BC Wolves and Ironi Ness Ziona. Andrzej Urban`s men won the playoff series against Zastal Zielona Gora, 195-177.
Polski Cukier Start Lublin won the Group A with a 5-1 record and a positive tie against Budivelnyk Kyiv. Start defeated Ironi Ness Ziona in the home-and-away series, 170-155.
Series history: both teams will meet for the first time in the ENBL history.
PLK duels
Artur Gronek`s men defended the home court on October 21, 2022, beating BM Stal Ostrów 90-71. Andrzej Urban took revenge on February 10, 2023, posting a 78-74 win.
What`s at stake
BM Stal Ostrów may advance to its first ENBL final and secure a golden game on the home floor. Polski Cukier Start Lublin may reach the ENBL final for the first time.
Key matchup: big men
Damian Kulig leads BM Stal Ostrów in the PLK with 15.0 points, 7.6 rebounds and efficiency rating of 19.3.
Power forward averages 9.6 points and 6.3 rebounds in the ENBL.
Klāvs Čavars has 85 points in the ENBL and leads Polski Cukier Start Lublin in efficiency (in total 129).
Latvian center averages 12.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.
Player statistics
Four BM Stal Ostrów players – Ojārs Siliņš, Aigars Šķēle, Adonis Thomas and Jakub Garbacz – averaged more than 25 minutes in the ENBL but none of them played more than 27 minutes.
The scoring was also shared between many players. Garbacz had 14.0 points, followed by Siliņš (11.6), Nemanja Djurišič (10.9) and Thomas (10.7).
Cleveland Melvin has scored 128 points for Polski Cukier Start Lublin while he averages 16.0 points.
Scoochie Smith needs eight more points to reach a century mark.
Gabe Devoe III has 67 points or 13.4 points per game.
Troy Barnies averages 13.3 points on 51.7% shooting from the three point line.
Scoochie Smith is the premier ball handler as he averages 6.6 assists, followed by Gabe Devoe (4.2).
Team statistics
BM Stal Ostrów average 84.9 points per game, while Polski Cukier Start Lublin has 84.4 points.
The hosts have a little advantage in rebounds – 35.5 vs 35.2.
BM Stal Ostrów share the ball extremely well, averaging 23.4 assists.
Polski Cukier Start Lublin registered 19.6 assists on average.
SCHEDULE (local time only)
Tuesday, April 11
16:00 King Szczecin – BC Wolves https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/ENBL/2258722/
19:00 BM Stal Ostrow – Polski Cukier Start Lublin
Wednesday, April 12
16:00 Bronze medal game
19:00 Final
21:00 Award ceremony