The fourth week of January starts with two games in Poland and the United Kingdom. Polski Cukier Start Lublin will face Tartu Ülikool Maks&Moorits on Monday night, while the Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles will host Royal Liège Basket a day later.
Polski Cukier Start Lublin vs Tartu Ülikool Maks&Moorits
Series history: Polski Cukier Start Lublin and Tartu Ülikool Maks&Moorits will face each other for the first time.
Key matchup: Liam O`Reilly averages 18.4 points and 4.8 assists in the ENBL for Start Lublin.
A former Gardner-Webb guard shoots 63.3% from the two point line and 34.4% from the three point line.
Mart Rosenthal averages 13.2 points and 6.6 assists in the ENBL for Tartu.
National championships: Polski Cukier Start Lublin are 10-7 in the PLK.
Anwil Wloclawek (16-2) is in the first place, followed by Trefl Sopot (12-5) and Ostrow Stal (11-7).
Polski Cukier Start Lublin are 2-2 in 2024, including 1-1 in the ENBL.
The Polish team played eight of its last nine games on the road.
Start lost both home games in the ENBL – first, against Uniclub Casino Juventus, 73-103, and then against the Bristol Flyers, 85-107.
Polski Cukier Start Lublin are 2-0 against the Estonian teams – TalTech Optibet, Kalev Cramo – in the ENBL.
Tartu Ülikool Maks&Moorits are 13-6 in the Pafbet Estonia and Latvia league.
Gundars Vētra men have won three consecutive games, including a 83-41 victory over the Svendborg Rabbits.
Tartu defeated Liepāja on the road, 84-78, and then trashed Viimsi at home, 76-24.
The Estonians are 1-0 in the ENBL road games.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Michal Chrakowiecki (Poland) – FIBA referee from 2019, PLK referee from 2012, has worked at many play-off games.
Umpire 1: Rainis Vārv (Estonia) – FIBA referee from 2023, Estonia KML and Pafbet Estonia-Latvia league referee from 2017, has worked at the 2023 Pafbet Final 4.
Umpire 2: Marcin Gawron (Poland) – a referee from 2008, PLK referee from 2022.
Observer: Oskars Lucis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube live stream
Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles vs Royal Liège Basket
Series history: Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles and Royal Liège Basket will face each other for the first time.
Key matchup: Jordan Johnson averages 19.5 points and 6.8 assists in the ENBL for the Newcastle Eagles.
A former UNLV Runnin Rebel shoots 65.5% from the two point line and 31.8% from the three point line.
Olivier Troisfontaines averages 12.8 points and 3.0 assists in the ENBL for Royal Liège Basket.
He shoots 39.3% from the three point line.
National championships: The Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles are 11-9 in the British Basketball league.
London Lions lead the table with a 22-3 record, followed by the Caledonia Gladiators (13-8) and Cheshire Phoenix (12-8).
Newcastle recently played four games at the BBL Trophy, finishing a 2024 campaign with a 2-2 record.
Marc Steutel`s men dropped out of competition after a 85-101 home loss against the Leicester Riders.
The Eagles are 1-0 in the ENBL home games.
Royal Liège Basket are 9-6 in the BNXT league.
The Belgian team has posted a 5-1 record in the last six games, including 2-0 in the ENBL.
Royal Liège Basket are 2-1 in the ENBL road games.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Iain Macdonald (United Kingdom) – FIBA referee from 2017, British Basketball league referee from 2014.
Umpire 1: Pierre Gillis (Belgium) – FIBA referee from 2021, Belgian top division from 2017.
Umpire 2: Kate Unsworth (United Kingdom) – FIBA referee from 2012, BBL referee from 2007; has worked at the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championship for Women semifinal.
Observer: Oskars Lucis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube live stream