A lof of action awaits on Wednesday, January 31, as two teams may book tickets to the 2024 ENBL playoffs. CSO Voluntari will face Zastal Zielona Gora, while Keila Coolbet will host the Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles.
CSO Voluntari vs Zastal Zielona Gora
Series history: CSO Voluntari and Zastal Zielona Gora will face each other for the first time.
Zastal Zielona Gora will qualify with a win if Keila Coolbet defeat the Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles.
Šiauliai may advance too.
Key matchup: KeyShawn Feazell averages 14.0 points and 7.0 rebounds for CSO Voluntari.
He shoots 66.7% from the field and 92.9% from the charity stripe.
Darious Hall averages 17.5 points and 7.3 rebounds for the Zastal Zielona Gora.
He shoots 58.1% from the field and 69.0% from the free throw line.
National championships: ten best teams continue the regular season in Romania, while the other eight are competing at a lower level.
CSO Voluntari are 4-5 in the upper group.
EuroCup playoff team Cluj-Napoca leads the table with a 9-0 record.
Oradea is in the second place 7-2, while four teams – Sibiu, Pitesti, Targu Mures and Voluntari – have a 5-4 or 4-5 record.
CSO Voluntari lost at Sibiu, 79-84, on January 27.
The Romanians are 2-0 in the ENBL home games.
Zastal Zielona Gora are 5-14 in the Orlen PLK.
Zielona Gora defeated Sokol Lancut, 86-84, on January 25.
Zastal are 0-1 in the ENBL road games.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Marius Ciulin (Romania) – FIBA referee from 2003; has worked at EuroBasket (four times), EuroBasket Women (four times), EuroLeague Women Final 4 (twice), Basketball Champions league Final 4.
Umpire 1: Michal Kuzia (Poland) – PLK referee from 2017, has worked at the Alpe Adria Cup from 2018.
Umpire 2: Vlad-Theodor Cotrobas (Romania) – Top division in Romania from 2021, FIBA referee from 2023.
Observer: Oskars Lucis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube live stream
Keila Coolbet vs Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles
Series history: Keila Coolbet will face the Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles for the first time.
Newcastle Eagles will improve their chances to advance with a win.
“Top 5” teams are 14-0 against the “Bottom 3” in the Group B.
Key matchup: Denis Krestinin averages 14.3 points and 8.3 rebounds for Keila Coolbet.
Power forward is a top level defender with 3.2 steals and 1.0 block.
Tajh Green averages 15.6 points and 9.4 rebounds for Newcastle.
He shoots 53.5% from the field and 73.9% from the charity stripe.
National championships: Keila Coolbet are 8-14 at the Pafbet Estonia and Latvia league.
Peep Pahv and his men are two wins away from the playoff zone.
They lost previous two games on the home floor against Rīgas Zeļļi, 71-78, and Parnu Sadam, 88-93.
Keila Coolbet are 0-2 in the ENBL home games.
Newcastle Eagles are 11-9 in the British Basketball league.
Last weekend of January was highligted by the BBL Trophy Final Four in Birmingham.
Cheshire Phoenix stunned the London Lions in a highly entertaining final.
Marc Steutel and Newcastle Eagles are 1-2 in the ENBL road games.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Ivo Kitsing (Estonia) – have been officiating from 2007, first top league game on November 14, 2014 (Baltic Basketball league), FIBA referee from 2023.
Umpire 1: Paul Unsworth (United Kingdom) – British Basketball league referee from 1999, FIBA referee from 2010.
Umpire 2: Aleksei Mohov (Estonia) – referee at Estonian top division from 2011, has worked at many Estonian finals.
Observer: Oskars Lucis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube live stream
Format
Four best teams from each group will qualify for the playoffs (A1-B4, A2-B3, A3-B2, A4-B1).
The 2024 playoffs – home and away, best-of-two series – will take place from February 15 until March 20.
The 2024 Final Four will take place on April 9-10.