Highway to the danger zone: SYNTAINICS MBC to host Manchester Basketball
- marisnoviks
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
ENBL VIMODROM Final Four 2026 second semifinal offers a clash between the 2025 German Cup winners SYNTAINICS MBC and the 2026 Super League Basketball Cup finalists Manchester Basketball.
Series history: SYNTAINICS MBC and Manchester Basketball will face each other for the first time.
SYNTAINICS MBC posted a 10-1 record on the road to the Final Four, including two wins in the quarterfinal series against Donar Groningen.
The German club has a 6-0 record on the home floor.
Manchester Basketball are 9-2 after a 3-0 run in the playoffs and an upset win in the quartefinal series against the higher seeded Dinamo Zagreb.
Hats off to Matthew Otten and his men – they made it to the European Final Four in their debut season.
Leaders: the 2026 ENBL Most Valuable Player Spencer Reaves averages 19.1 points.
Charles Callison has 13.8 points and 5.4 assists.
Khyri Thomas has registered 16.0 points and 2.3 steals.
Max Jones leads Manchester Basketball with 18.7 points and 2.5 assists.
PJay Smith has 14.2 points and 2.5 assists.
Jordan Johnson averages 14.3 points and 5.2 assists.
National championships: SYNTAINICS MBC are 12-18 at the Basketball Bundesliga.
Hamburg Towers and Frankfurt Skyliners also have 12 wins.
Manchester Basketball are 18-13 at the Super League Basketball, rounding out the Top 3.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Marius Ciulin (Romania) – FIBA referee from 2003, one of the Top FIBA referees, has worked at four EuroBaskets, four Women`s EuroBaskets, two EuroLeague Women Final Fours, one Basketball Champions league Final Four, the 2025 and 2026 ENBL Final Four.
Umpire 1: Bogna Podkowinska (Poland) – Basket Liga Kobiet referee from 2018, Orlen PLK referee from 2022, FIBA referee from 2023, ENBL referee from 2023, has worked at the Alpe Adria Cup (AAC) from 2018.
Umpire 2: Jonaš Kavan (Czechia) – MAXA NBL referee last three seasons, has been working in Czech competitions from 2017, has worked at two Chance ŽBL finals, ENBL referee from 2023.
Observer: Oskars Lucis (Latvia).
2026 Final Four schedule, Central European Time
Wednesday, April 22, semifinals
17:00 CSO Voluntari – Dziki Warszawa
20:00 SYNTAINICS MBC – Manchester Basketball
Thursday, April 23, medal games
17:00 Bronze medal game
20:00 Final
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