PAO killers enter the stage: three games in Greece, Germany, Iceland
- marisnoviks
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
Three single elimination games are to be played on Wednesday, March 11. Two time Greece champions Iraklis BC will host TalTech/ALEXELA. The 2025 German Cup winners SYNTAINICS MBC are facing BK Olomoucko. Tindastoll and Riga Zelli are meeting in the High North.
Iraklis BC vs TalTech/ALEXELA
Playoff experience: both teams have qualified to the ENBL playoffs for the first time.
TalTech/ALEXELA finished thirteenth in 2023 with a 1-5 record.
This year the Estonian team returned to post a 4-4 record and punch a ticket to the playoffs.
Iraklis BC have a 102-80 record in European competitions.
Zoran Lukič has a 6-1 record in the ENBL.
Dimitris Moraitis is the 2026 ENBL Defensive Player of the Year.
The winners will advance to the quartefinals where they will face Dziki Warszawa in the best-of-two home and away series.
Series history: Iraklis BC (7-1) will face TalTech/ALEXELA (4-4) for the first time.
Iraklis BC are 4-0 on the home floor after wins against Newcastle Eagles, Spartak Pleven, Dziki Warszawa and Go+ Peja.
TalTech/ALEXELA are 2-2 on the road after successes at the Fyllingen Lions, 89-71, and at the Bristol Flyers, 76-70.
National championships: Iraklis BC are 8-10 at the Greek Basketball league.
Iraklis BC defeated legendary Euroleague club Panathinaikos Athens, 76-74, on March 8.
TalTech/ALEXELA are 16-9 at the Estonia and Latvia basketball league.
The Estonians lost at Kalev/Cramo, 78-91, on March 8.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Serafim Petrov (Bulgaria) – Sesame NBL referee from 2018, FIBA referee from 2021; has worked at the 2025 Glasora Final Four and many Bulgarian finals.
Umpire 1: Ngadhnjim Shabani (Kosovo) – FIBA referee from 2021, Kosovo Superleague referee from 2016; has officiated in the ENBL, 2022-2023, Balkan International basketball league, and the Unique league (Albania-Kosovo).
Umpire 2: Dāvis Graudiņš (Latvia) – Latvian Cup referee from 2020, Estonia and Latvia league referee from 2024, ENBL referee from 2024; has attended the 2022 Baltic Sea cup FIBA clinic.
Observer (at the video): Oskars Lucis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on Youtube
SYNTAINICS MBC vs BK Olomoucko
Playoff experience: both teams have qualified to the ENBL playoffs for the first time.
The winners will advance to the quarterfinals where they will face Donar Groningen and Jason Dourisseau, the 2026 Coach of the Year.
Spencer Reaves is the 2026 ENBL Most Valuable Player.
Series history: SYNTAINICS MBC (7-1) will face BK Olomoucko (4-4) for the first time.
The 2025 German Cup winners are 4-0 on the home floor after wins against TalTech/ALEXELA, Valmiera Glass ViA, Donar Groningen and HEFTE HELFEN BULLS.
BK Olomoucko are 2-2 on the road thanks to a 87-81 win at Riga Zelli – game took place in Saldus – and a forfeit at Go+ Peja.
National championships: SYNTAINICS MBC are 7-16 at the Bundesliga.
SYNTAINICS MBC lost at Bonn, 72-88, on March 8.
BK Olomoucko are 9-18 at the MAXA NBL.
BK Olomoucko lost at Hradec Kralove, 77-92, on March 5.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Filip Szczesny (Norway) – FIBA referee from 2019, first season in ENBL.
Umpire 1: Mareks Voļskis (Latvia) – LBL referee from 2006, ENBL referee from 2022, has worked at many Latvian finals.
Umpire 2: Rudolf Salvetr (Czechia) – MAXA NBL referee from 2015, used to be a FIMBA referee (2009-2017).
Observer (at the video): Paul Valentin (Austria).
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube
Tindastoll vs Riga Zelli
Playoff experience: both teams have qualified to the ENBL playoffs for the first time.
Tindastoll have scored 98 or more points in every home game.
The winners will advance to the quarterfinals where they will face the 2025 ENBL champions CSO Voluntari.
Series history: Tindastoll (6-2) will face Riga Zelli (5-3) for the first time.
Tindastoll are 3-1 on the home floor thanks to the record setting wins against Gimle Basket, 125-88, Manchester Basketball, 100-96, and Brussels Basketball, 98-92.
Their lone loss came at the hands of Dinamo Zagreb, 104-110.
Riga Zelli are 3-1 on the road thanks to wins at Dziki Warszawa, 93-91, Go+ Peja, 83-72, and Spartak Pleven, 85-81.
National championships: Tindastoll are 14-5 at the Subway league.
Tindastoll defeated Grindavik, 92-87, on March 7.
Riga Zelli are 18-6 at the Estonia and Latvia league.
Riga Zelli won at TalTech, 95-86, on March 2, and defeated Parnu, 83-75, on March 7.
Dāvis Čoders took coaching reins a couple of weeks ago, replacing Juris Umbraško.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Michal Chrakowiecki (Poland) – Orlen PLK referee from 2012, FIBA referee fro 2019, ENBL referee from 2022; has worked at the Polish finals and playoffs.
Umpire 1: Sigmundur Már Herbertsson (Iceland) – referee from 1994, Subway league referee from 1995, FIBA referee 2003-2018; has worked at the EuroBasket 2015.
Umpire 2: Juris Brūveris (Latvia) – one of the most experienced referees in Latvia, ENBL referee from 2023; has worked at the 2021 European Women`s Basketball league final.
Observer (at the video): Oskars Lucis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube
2026 ENBL playoffs | local time | CET
Wednesday, March 4
(7) Dziki Warszawa 97-84 Valmiera Glass ViA (10)
Tuesday, March 10
(3) CSO Voluntari 99-74 Slovan Bratislava (14)
(8) Donar Groningen 103-86 BK Opava (9)
(5) Manchester Basketball 94-92 Dubrava Zagreb (12)
Wednesday, March 11
19:45 | 18:45 (2) Iraklis BC – TalTech/ALEXELA (15)
19:30 | 19:30 (1) SYNTAINICS MBC – BK Olomoucko (16)
19:15 | 20:15 (6) Tindastoll – Riga Zelli (11)
Thursday, March 12
19:15 | 19:15 (4) Dinamo Zagreb walkover vs SIGAL Prishtina (13)
March 17-April 2, quarterfinals
Best-of-two, home and away series
April 21-23, Final Four
Location and final dates to be confirmed
2026 ENBL playoffs and bracket
Live blog: the playoffs are coming
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