More action awaits on Super Tuesday, January 9. Basket Brno and Valmiera Glass ViA will clash for the first win in Group B. The Bristol Flyers (3-2) will face the victorious Bakken Bears from Aarhus (3-0).
Basket Brno vs Valmiera Glass ViA
Series history: Basket Brno and Valmiera Glass ViA will face each other for the third time.
The Czech team leads the series, 2-0.
Brno won a hard game at Valmiera, 79-77, on December 2, 2021.
They visited Valmiera for the second time on January 24, 2023, and prevailed again, 90-83.
Key matchup: Tomas Zdanavičius averages 20.0 points and 7.3 rebounds in the ENBL.
He shoots 65.6% from the field, including 42.9% from the three point line.
It`s risky to foul him as he makes 83.3% for Brno from the charity stripe.
Edmunds Elksnis led Valmiera on Saturday with 25 points and six assists.
He averages 10.8 points and 5.4 assists in the ENBL.
Elksnis shoots 53.3% from the field, including 32.4% from the three point line.
National championships: Basket Brno are 10-9 at the Kooperativa NBL.
They occupy the fifth place in the standings.
Brno opened the 2024 with a 94-69 home win against NH Ostrava on January 4.
They are 6-3 at home in the NBL and 0-3 in the ENBL.
Valmiera Glass ViA opened the 2024 on a high note.
Vidzeme team traveled to the Latvian capital and defeated ambitious Rīgas Zeļļi, 85-79, in the first quarterfinal game of the Latvian Cup on January 6.
Return game is set on January 20.
Valmiera Glass ViA are 0-3 on the road in the ENBL.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Martin Kucirek (Czechia) – a referee from 2004; NBL referee from 2015; FIBA referee from 2019.
Umpire 1: Oskars Lucis (Latvia) – FIBA referee 2003-2023; Euroleague referee 2007-2016.
Umpire 2: Jonaš Kavan (Czechia) – a referee from 2017, NBL referee from 2023; has worked at the 2022 Women`s Czech Basketball league final.
Observer: Mareks Voļskis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube live stream
Bristol Flyers vs Bakken Bears Aarhus
Series history: Bristol Flyers and Bakken Bears Aarhus will face each other for the first time.
Key matchup: Brad Greene averages 15.4 points and 8.6 rebounds in the ENBL.
Big man is a top level defender – he has 1.6 steals and 1.6 blocks.
Greene shoots 65.5% from the field and 55.6% from the free throw line.
DeAndre Pinckney has delivered fantastic performances in the ENBL for the Bakken Bears.
He averages a league leading 26.0 points, complimented by 9.3 rebounds.
Pinckney shoots 83.8% inside the three point line and may connect a three pointer too.
National championships: BBL Trophy 2024 kicked off on Thursday, January 4, at the Copper Box arena in London.
Bristol Flyers lost the first round game against the Leicester Riders, 74-95, on January 5 at the Morningside arena.
The Flyers will host the Newcastle Eagles on January 12 and the London Lions on January 19.
Andreas Kapoulas men are 1-1 on the home floor in the ENBL.
Bristol signed American forward Levi Bradley earlier this week – he is a former Flyer.
Bakken Bears Aarhus are 14-1 at the Basketligaen and 3-0 at the ENBL.
The Bears defeated the Svendborg Rabbits, 110-77, on January 6.
Aarhus prevailed at Tartu three days earlier.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Simon Unsworth (United Kingdom) – British Basketball league referee from 1999, FIBA referee from 2010.
Umpire 1: Christian Hansen (Denmark) – FIBA referee from 2021, Basketligaen referee from 2015.
Umpire 2: Joe Hodgson (United Kingdom) – FIBA referee from 2023, British Basketball league referee from 2021, a National league referee from 2016.
Observer: Oskars Lucis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube live stream