Wednesday, January 10, will feature two games in northern and eastern Lithuania. Uniclub Casino Juventus will host the Landstede Hammers Zwolle, while Šiauliai will face Keila Coolbet.
Uniclub Casino Juventus vs Landstede Hammers
Series history: Uniclub Casino Juventus Utena and Landstede Hammers Zwolle will face each other for the first time.
Key matchup: Šarūnas Beniušis averages 13.8 points and 5.3 rebounds in 23.3 minutes of play in the ENBL.
Power forward shoots 81.5% from the two points line and 57.9% from the charity stripe.
Noah Dickerson has averaged 15.7 points and 11.0 rebounds in the ENBL.
A former Washington Huskies big man is a masterful defender as well – with 1.3 blocks per game.
Dickerson shoots 54.8% from the field and 76.5% from the free throw line.
National championships: Uniclub Casino Juventus are 11-5 at the Betsafe LKL.
Utena club occupies the fourth place in the standings behind Žalgiris Kaunas (13-2), Rytas Vilnius (13-2) and Wolves Vilnius (12-4).
Juventus players have won five consecutive games in the LKL, including home wins against CBet Jonava, Wolves and Nevežys Kedainiai.
Their most recent success was registered on Sunday, January 7 – a 91-78 win at Neptūnas Klaipeda.
Uniclub Casino Juventus won four consecutive games on the home floor, including a 110-92 win over Svendborg Rabbits.
The streak came to an end on December 27, when Juventus lost King Mindaugas Cup game against Rytas Vilnius, 86-98.
Oliver Kostič`s men will play the next three ENBL games at home.
Landstede Hammers are 8-3 at the BNXT league.
Jean Marc Jaumin`s men have posted four wins in last five BNXT league matches.
They defeated Yoast United, 88-73, on December 23.
Landstede Hammers are 0-1 on the road in the ENBL after a 56-68 loss at Bristol Flyers on December 5.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Gintaras Maciulis (Lithuania) – a Top 10 referee from Lithuania, FIBA referee from 2017, Basketball Champions league referee from 2020; has worked at the EuroBasket 2022 and the EuroBasket Women 2023.
Umpire 1: Martin Westerhof (Netherlands) – has played on national level until his 19th birthday; started officiating due to injuries; has worked at the Dutch highest level for eight years.
Umpire 2: Darius Šomka (Lithuania) – LKL referee from 2019; has worked at the 2018 and 2019 NKL Final 4; has attended FIBA camp in 2019 in Kortrijk.
Observer: Oskars Lucis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube live stream
Šiauliai vs Keila Coolbet
Series history: Šiauliai and Keila Coolbet will face each other for the first time.
Key matchup: Paulius Danusevičius averages 13.8 points and 5.8 rebounds in the ENBL.
Forward shoots 78.3% from the two points line and 35.7% from the three points line.
Denis Krestinin has 12.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.
A Lithuanian known for his hustle play shoots 73.3% from the field and 73.7% from the free throw line.
National championships: Šiauliai are 3-12 at the Betsafe LKL.
The Sun City club parted ways with head coach Nikolajs Mazurs after a 2-12 start in the LKL.
New playcaller Žydrūnas Urbonas finished the 2023 with two wins.
Šiauliai posted a 104-77 success at Valmiera Glass ViA on December 27 and a 78-73 win over Mažeikiai three days later at Telšiai.
Urbonas opened the 2024 with a 80-77 home win over CBet Jonava in the King Mindaugas Cup on Thursday, January 4.
Jonathan Davis signed a deal with Hapoel Haifa in mid November.
Keila Coolbet are 7-11 at the Pafbet Estonia and Latvia league.
They are positioned two wins below the playoffs zone.
Peep Pahv`s men finished the 2023 with two wins.
They won their second consecutive ENBL road game at Basket Brno, 93-73, on December 18.
A 82-80 home success against Viimsi was posted four days later.
Keila lost the 2024 opener at TalTech Optibet, 73-82, on January 6.
They are 2-0 on the road in the ENBL.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Gabrielius Simonavicius (Lithuania) – FIBA referee from 2023, LKL referee from 2020; has worked at the 2023 Betsafe Women`s Baltic Basketball league Final 4 and the 2023 ENBL Final 4.
Umpire 1: Egert Tiidor (Estonia) – a referee from 2015, Pafbet Estonia-Latvia league referee from 2020 by being only 21 years old then.
Umpire 2: Dovydas Kairys (Lithuania) – LKL referee from 2022; has worked at the 2022 NKL Final 4 and the European Women`s Basketball league (EWBL).
Observer: Mareks Voļskis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube live stream