High profile visitors at Kapfenberg and Fyllingen, home opener for Dubrava Zagreb

Māris Noviks
11 hours ago
4 min read

Three games are to be played on Wednesday, October 22. Seven time Austrian champions HEFTE HELFEN Bulls will host the 2025 ENBL champions CSO Voluntari. Reigning Norway champions Fyllingen Lions are facing the 2025 German Cup winners SYNTAINICS MBC. Dubrava Zagreb host the home opener against Go+ Peja.

HEFTE HELFEN BULLS vs CSO Voluntari

Series history: Hefte Helfen Bulls (0-2) will face CSO Voluntari (2-0) for the first time.

The Bulls lost the home opener against Bristol Flyers, 78-90, on September 23, and then suffered a road loss at TalTech/Alexela, 55-61, on October 8.

CSO Voluntari won the season opener at Fyllingen Lions, 104-64, on September 25, and defeated Alkar Sinj, 92-72, on October 14.

National championships: Hefte Helfen Bulls are 2-2 at the Austrian Basketball Superliga.

The Bulls defeated visitors from Eisenstadt, 91-74, on October 4, and Traiskirchen, 81-78, on October 17, but lost at Oberwart, 88-93, on October 19.

CSO Voluntari are 2-2 at the Liga Nationala.

They lost a home match against Oradea, 76-81, on October 18.

Know your referees

Crew chief: Milos Stokic (Austria) – FIBA referee from 2025, has worked at the Alpe Adria Cup quarter finals, Austrian league and Cup finals.

Umpire 1: Matei Stelia Banica (Romania) – Liga Nationala referee from 2020, FIBA referee from 2025, has worked at the Romanian Championship finals for Men and Women.

Umpire 2: Silvia Jury (Austria) – FIBA referee from 2017, FIBA maternity leave 2022-2025, two kids; has worked at the Austrian top division from 2014, and CEWL Final Four (Brno 2017, Brasov 2018).

Observer (on the spot): Paul Valentin (Austria).

ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFzk4r8Zi4M

Live stats: https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/ENBL/2707126

Fyllingen Lions vs SYNTAINICS MBC

Series history: Fyllingen Lions (0-2) will face SYNTAINICS MBC (1-0) for the first time.

Bergen team lost at undefeated Valmiera Glass ViA, 75-93, on October 15.

Syntainics MBC defeated TalTech/Alexela, 84-57, on September 23.

National championships: Fyllingen Lions are 5-1 at the BLNO and 5-3 in all competitions.

The Lions won back-to-back road games at Nidaros Jets, 113-85, on October 18, and the TNT Towers, 82-58, on October 19.

Syntainics MBC are 5-1 in all competitions, including a perfect 4-0 start at the Bundesliga.

Weissenfels team won at Hamburg, 93-85, on September 28, adding wins against Bonn, 84-77, on October 2, Rasta Vechta – named in honor of Bob Marley, 96-83, on October 4, and Ulm, 75-71, on October 11.

Their single loss came at the hands of Bamberg, 78-105, in the first round of the German Cup eight finals on October 18.

Know your referees

Crew chief: Alexander Ochoa Svendberg (Norway) – FIBA referee from 2023, BLNO referee from 2018.

Umpire 1: Juris Brūveris (Latvia) – one of the most experienced referees in Latvia, Optibet LBL and Estonia-Latvia league referee for more than 10 years, has worked at the 2021 EWBL final.

Umpire 2: Sturla Sand (Norway) – national referee from 2007, FIBA referee 2017-2023.

Observer (at the video): Neil Wilkinson (United Kingdom).

ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQsZOxKPhL8

Live stats: https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/ENBL/2707127/

Dubrava Zagreb vs Go+ Peja

Series history: Dubrava Zagreb (0-1) will face Go+ Peja (0-1) for the first time.

Dubrava lost at Spartak Pleven, 82-83, on October 1.

Go+ Peja lost to Riga Zelli, 72-83, on October 14 at Prishtina.

National championships: Dubrava Zagreb are 1-3 at the Premijer liga.

Their first win of the season came on October 11, at Kvarner Rijeka, 81-77.

Dubrava lost the home game against Zabok, 78-86, on October 17.

Go+ Peja are 2-0 at the Kosovo Superliga.

They won at Ylli, 76-71, on October 19.

Know your referees

Crew chief: Josip Mikulic (Croatia) – Premijer liga referee from 2016, FIBA referee from 2019.

Umpire 1: Ngadhnjim Shabani (Kosovo) – FIBA referee from 2021, active referee in the Kosovo Super League from 2016, has worked in the ENBL 2022-2023, Balkan International Basketball league, and the Unique league (Albania-Kosovo).

Umpire 2: Boris Hartman (Croatia) – referee from 2015, ABA referee 2019-2024, WABA referee from 2019, including one Final Four and bronze medal match, Supersport Croatian league from 2018.

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

ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0K7qFMeo9hY

Live stats: https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/ENBL/2707125/

ENBL standings as of October 21, 2025 | without tie-breakers

CSO Voluntari 2-0, +60

BK Opava 2-0, +36

Valmiera Glass/ViA 2-0, +22

Sigal Prishtina 2-0, +16

Riga Zelli 2-0, +13

Spartak Pleven 2-0, +8

Tindastoll 2-1, +34