Quarterfinals start now: Donar Groningen to host SYNTAINICS MBC

marisnoviks
19 minutes ago
3 min read

The 2026 ENBL quarterfinals start on Tuesday, March 17, as the eighth seeded Donar Groningen host the 2025 German Cup winners SYNTAINICS MBC.

Playoff experience: both teams have qualified to the ENBL playoffs for the first time.

Donar Groningen celebrated 75^th anniversary on March 8, 2026.

Two days later Donar won the Round of 16 home game against BK Opava, 103-86, and advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-3 record.

Jason Dourisseau is the 2026 ENBL Coach of the Year.

SYNTAINICS MBC defeated BK Olomoucko, 98-83, to reach the quarterfinals with a 8-1 record.

Spencer Reaves is the 2026 ENBL Most Valuable Player.

The winners of the best-of-two home and away series will advance to the Final Four where they will face the best team in a duel between Dinamo Zagreb and Manchester Basketball.

Series history: Donar Groningen (6-3) will face SYNTAINICS MBC (8-1) for the second time.

SYNTAINICS MBC defeated Donar Groningen on the Epiphany Day, 106-104.

Spencer Reaves led the hosts with 29 points on 7/16 shooting from the three point line.

Khyri Thomas scored 25 points and dished out seven assists.

Austin Luke had 23 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds for Donar.

Donar Groningen are 4-1 on the home floor after four consecutive wins over TalTech/ALEXELA, Fyllingen Lions, Alkar Sinj and BK Opava.

SYNTAINICS MBC are 3-1 on the road after wins against Fyllingen Lions, Bristol Flyers and Alkar Sinj.

National championships: Donar Groningen are 12-9 at the BNXT league.

Donar won at Den Helder, 88-86, on March 12, and then lost against Den Helder, 90-92, on March 15.

Austin Luke had 19 points and 16 assists in a win, followed by a 20 points, 11 assists performance three days later.

Damian Forrest scored 30 points in a loss.

SYNTAINICS MBC are 8-16 at the Bundesliga and recently posted their first win since Round 10 success against Braunschweig.

Weissenfels team defeated ALBA Berlin, 99-68, on March 15, behind 23 points by Spencer Reaves.

Marcus Foster posted a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Charles Callison shined with 16 points and nine assists.

Know your referees

Crew chief: Michal Kuzia (Poland) – Orlen PLK referee from 2017, FIBA referee from 2023; has worked at the Alpe Adria Cup from 2018.

Umpire 1: Tijmen Last (Netherlands) – Dutch top league referee from 2017, a four time consecutive Dutch Referee of the Year, FIBA referee from 2019.

Umpire 2: Bence Szilvagyi (United Kingdom) – Super League Basketball referee from 2023.

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

ENBL access: follow the game on Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0pCa3YqaZ4

Live stats: https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/ENBL/2829455/

2026 quarterfinals | local time | CET

Tuesday, March 17

19:30 | 19:30 (8) Donar Groningen – SYNTAINICS MBC (1)

Wednesday, March 18

19:00 | 19:00 (7) Dziki Warszawa – Iraklis BC (2)

Wednesday, March 25

19:00 | 20:00 (5) Manchester Basketball – Dinamo Zagreb (4)