Wednesday, January 17, comes with two games in Poland and Denmark. Zastal Zielona Gora will face Keila Coolbet, while the Svendborg Rabbits will host Spartak Pleven.
Zastal Zielona Gora vs Keila Coolbet
Series history: Zastal Zielona Gora and Keila Coolbet will face each other for the first time.
Key matchup: Novak Musič leads Zielona Gora in assists and steals.
Guard averages 13.8 points, 8.3 assists and 3.0 steals.
Geoffrey Groselle left Zielona Gora and signed at Trefl Sopot.
Denis Krestinin leads Keila with 12.8 points and 8.2 rebounds.
A Lithuanian forward averages 2.4 steals and 3.0 assists.
National championships: Zastal Zielona Gora share the fourteenth place in the PLK standings with Arka Gdynia and Sokol Lancut.
The team has lost six of the last seven games, including four losses in five matches on the home floor.
Zastal defeated Spojnia Stargard, 105-93, on December 21, 2023.
Zastal Zielona Gora are 3-0 in the ENBL home games (last one on November 15).
Zielona Gora recently signed a 28 years old Montenegrin center Gligorije Rakocevic.
Keila Coolbet are 7-12 at the Pafbet Estonia and Latvia basketball league.
Peep Pahv`s men are two wins behind the playoff zone.
Keila ended the 2023 with two consecutive wins, including a 93-73 road win at Basket Brno.
However, the 2024 started with three losses on the road.
Keila fell at the hands of TalTech, Šiauliai and a 10 time Latvian champion Ventspils, 87-116, on January 12.
Keila Coolbet are 2-1 in the ENBL road games.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Bogna Podkowinska (Poland) – FIBA referee from 2023, Orlen PLK referee from 2022; has worked at the Alpe Adria Cup (AAC) from 2018.
Umpire 1: Mart Uuehendrik (Estonia) – FIBA referee from 2006; Estonia top league from 2002; has worked at the EuroCup Women finals in 2018.
Umpire 2: Filip Marek (Poland) – Orlen PLK referee from 2018; women`s BLK referee from 2016; has worked at the Alpe Adria Cup.
Observer: Mareks Voļskis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube live stream
Svendborg Rabbits vs Spartak Pleven
Series history: Svendborg Rabbits and Spartak Pleven will face each other for the first time.
Key matchup: Hameir Wright leads the Svendborg Rabbits with 13.4 points and 7.6 rebounds.
University of North Texas forward is a top level defender and averages 1.8 blocks per game.
Rodney Purvis averages 13.4 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists for Spartak Pleven.
A former UConn shooting guard shoots 41.2% from the three point line.
National championships: Svendborg Rabbits are 13-3 at the Basketligaen.
Svendborg defended the home court on January 15, by defeating Vaerlose, 98-76.
The Rabbits have won three straight at home.
They are 0-2 in the ENBL home games so far after losing against Start Lublin and Bakken Bears Aarhus.
Spartak Pleven are 10-6 in the NBL.
Lyubomir Minchev`s men occupy the fourth place in the standings.
They started the 2024 with three consecutive wins at home, including two successes against Chernomorets and Balkan.
Spartak Pleven registered its first ENBL win on January 9, by defeating the 2023 ENBL bronze medalist Start Lublin, 101-95.
They are 0-2 in the ENBL road games.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Christian Hansen (Denmark) – FIBA referee from 2021, Denmark Basketball highest leagues from 2015.
Umpire 1: Serafim Petrov (Bulgaria) – FIBA referee from 2021, Bulgaria top league from 2018; has worked at the 2022 FIBA U16 European Championship division B final in Sofia.
Umpire 2: Carsten Kristensen (Denmark) – Basketligaen and top women`s league referee from 2011, has worked at the finals in both leagues.
Observer: Oskars Lucis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube live stream