Three from three: CSO Voluntari advance to the Final Four

marisnoviks
Apr 9
3 min read

CSO Voluntari defeated Riga Zelli, 96-91, to win the quarterfinal series and advance to the ENBL VIMODROM Final Four 2026 on Thursday, April 9, at the Gabriela Szabo hall in Bucharest, Romania.

Players of the game

The final minutes of the game partly mirrored the events on Easter Sunday.

CSO Voluntari erased a double digit deficit and briefly lost the series lead again after successful plays by Khalil Shabazz and Rolands Šulcs, 89-91.

Michael Caffey answered from the three point line to regain a 92-91 advantage for CSO Voluntari.

A drive by Frankie Fidler was blocked by Mouhamed Barro, and referees canceled a following basket after Riga Zelli grabbed an offensive rebound to score second chance points.

Solomon Young led CSO Voluntari with 26 points on 6/10 shooting from the field and a perfect 10/10 from the free throw line.

A former Iowa State big man shot 4/6 from the three point line and grabbed 10 rebounds.

Mike Caffey had 22 points on 8/13 shooting from the field.

He went 2/7 from the deep after converting series winner.

Lee Skinner and Kodi Justice also finished in double figures, scoring 14 and 11 points respectively.

Frankie Fidler scored 26 points for Riga Zelli.

Michigan State graduate forward was huge for Riga but went 1/8 from the field in the last 10 minutes and missed three attempts from the three point line.

Khalil Shabazz checked out with 22 points, a game high six assists and four steals.

Jānis Bērziņš scored 16 points on 5/5 shooting from the floor.

Experienced forward shot 4/4 outside the arc.

Rolands Šulcs had 10 points.

Key stats

Riga Zelli led by as much as 10 points, 63-73, with 11.35 left in regulation.

A back to back three pointers by Solomon Young cut the gap to six points, 69-75.

It remained a two possession series the rest of the way as Riga Zelli lead never exceeded seven points – and a six points lead on aggregate.

CSO Voluntari shot 7/16 from the field and 11/13 from the charity stripe during the last 10 minutes.

Riga Zelli shot 6/14 from the field and 5/8 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter.

Unfinished and one play by Kodi Justice extended CSO Voluntari lead up to three points, 94-91, and series lead up to four points.

Frankie Fidler missed his last three field goal shooting attempts during the last 20 seconds.

Game notes

CSO Voluntari improved to 10-1, while Riga Zelli dropped to 6-5.

CSO Voluntari won the quarterfinal series, 177-171, and lead the series, 2-0.

The Romanian club advanced to the Final Four for the third time – a feat achieved for the first time in ENBL history.

Riga Zelli posted memorable away wins at Dziki Warszawa and Tindastoll to reach the Top Eight.

CSO Voluntari are 6-0 on the home floor after wins over Alkar Sinj, Donar Groningen, Bristol Flyers, SYNTAINICS MBC, Slovan Bratislava and Riga Zelli.

Dāvis Čoders and Riga Zelli are 4-2 on the road thanks to wins at Dziki Warszawa, KB Peja, Spartak Pleven and Tindastoll.

CSO Voluntari will face Dziki Warszawa on April 22.

2026 quarterfinals | local time | CET

Tuesday, March 17

(8)Donar Groningen 81-100 SYNTAINICS MBC (1)

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

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

Wednesday, March 18

(7) Dziki Warszawa 89-82 Iraklis BC (2)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC-vlMDy__E

https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/ENBL/2829456/

Wednesday, March 25