Tait-Jones, Kohs and Vītols open playoff doors for Valmiera Glass ViA
- marisnoviks
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Valmiera Glass ViA outrebounded TalTech/ALEXELA on the offensive glass and limited opponents fast breaks to post a 99-90 road win on Wednesday, January 28, at the TalTech Spordihoone in northern Estonia.
Players of the game
Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones nearly matched a season high scoring performance in the first three quarters for Valmiera Glass ViA.
Kiwi guard eventually scored 29 points on 10/16 shooting from the field and 9/10 from the charity stripe.
Tait-Jones grabbed nine rebounds and dished out four assists.
Verners Kohs got injured in the second game of the Latvian Cup at VEF Rīga but quickly returned.
Sharpshooter had 19 points and five rebounds.
Point guard Mārcis Vītols contributed with 11 points and five assists.
Taavi Jurkatamm and Oliver Metsalu scored 19 points for TalTech/ALEXELA each.
Key stats
TalTech/ALEXELA scored 18 points on fast breaks in the first half for a 47-48 lead.
The hosts got some easy points and shot 51 percent from the field, 18/35, including 46 percent from the three point line, 7/15.
Valmiera shot 46 percent from the field, 18/39, including 29 percent from the deep, 5/17.
The visitors scored more second chance points, 10-0.
Valmiera limited TalTech fast breaks in the second half, while Mārcis Vītols made some shots from behind the arc.
Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones and Mārcis Vītols combined for 17 points in the third quarter to put Valmiera ahead, 77-68.
Game notes
Valmiera Glass ViA improved to 5-2, while TalTech/ALEXELA dropped to 3-4.
Kaspars Vecvagars and Gunārs Gailītis team booked a trip to the 2026 playoffs.
Valmiera advanced to postseason for the second time – a year ago they did it with Nikolajs Mazurs at helm.
Mazurs recently took coaching reins of the Republic of Korea (ROK) national team.
Valmiera Glass ViA are 2-1 on the road and need one more win to secure a home court advantage in the first round of playoffs.
Valmiera Glass ViA have won all three games against TalTech/ALEXELA this season, including two encounters at the Estonia and Latvia league.
TalTech/ALEXELA are 2-2 on the home floor.
Ten teams from 10 countries have qualified for the 2026 playoffs so far.
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube
ENBL standings as of January 28, 2026, CET 19.30 | without tie-breakers
Syntainics MBC 6-0, +126 Q
Iraklis BC 6-1, +103 Q
CSO Voluntari 6-1, +86 Q
Dinamo Zagreb 6-1, +26 Q
Dziki Warszawa 5-2, +99 Q
Manchester 5-2, +68 Q
Tindastoll 5-2, +64 Q
BK Opava 5-2, +42 Q
Valmiera 5-2, +13 Q
Donar Groningen 5-3, +46 Q
Olomoucko 4-2, +2
Riga Zelli 4-3, -2
Sigal Prishtina 4-4, +13
Brussels Basketball 3-4, +22
Dubrava Zagreb 3-4, +12
TalTech Alexela 3-4, -5
Slovan Bratislava 3-4, -7
Bristol Flyers 3-4, -9
Spartak Pleven 3-4, -27
Newcastle Eagles 2-5, -52
Alkar Sinj 1-5, -79
Hefte Helfen Bulls 1-6, -46
Fyllingen Lions 1-6, -132
Gimle Basket 1-7, -123
Keila Coolbet 1-7, -105
Go+ Peja 1-7, -135 F
Playoffs picture as of January 24, 2026
Playoffs picture as of January 23, 2026
2025-2026 ENBL format and pools
2025-2026 ENBL schedule UPD16
2025 ENBL classification
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