Tuesday, January 30, will display two games in Lithuania and the Netherlands. Šiauliai will face Basket Brno in a important match-up in Group B. Landstede Hammers Zwolle will host Spartak Pleven as both teams seek their second win in Group A.
Šiauliai vs Basket Brno
Series history: Šiauliai and Basket Brno will face each other for the third time, the series are 1-1.
Brno won the first game against Šiauliai, 107-104, on December 28, 2021, in Rīga, Latvia.
Šiauliai prevailed in a first ENBL semifinal, 84-73, on April 6, 2022, in Wloclawek, Poland.
The Lithuanians will qualify on January 31, 2024, if Šiauliai defeat Brno, Voluntari defeat Zastal Zielona Gora and Newcastle defeat Keila;
Key matchup: LJ Thorpe averages 12.6 points and 4.4 assists for Šiauliai.
Tomaš Pavelka has 11.6 points and 6.8 rebounds.
Viktor Pulpan averages 9.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists for Basket Brno.
Terrell Brown-Soares has 14.4 points and 7.4 rebounds.
National championships: Šiauliai are 5-13 in the Betsafe LKL.
Žydrunas Urbonas team has a 2-1 record in last three home games, including a 107-79 win against Keila Coolbet.
Šiauliai lost to Turkish Airlines Euroleague team Žalgiris Kaunas, 73-87, on January 14.
The Sun City rebounded with a 85-77 success over Nevežys Kedainiai on January 28.
Šiauliai are 3-0 in the ENBL home games.
Basket Brno are 12-12 in the Kooperativa NBL.
Eight best teams continue the battle.
Basket Brno are 2-1 in the last three games.
Martin Vanek and his men defeated Olomouc, 71-65, and Slavia, 83-65, on the home floor.
They suffered a 68-75 defeat at Usti nad Labem on January 28.
Basket Brno are 0-2 in the ENBL road games.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Eimantas Vasiliauskas (Lithuania) – referee from 2012, LKL referee from 2023.
Umpire 1: Jonaš Kavan (Czechia) – Kooperativa NBL referee from 2023, has worked at the 2022 Czech Women`s basketball league final, upcoming FIBA camp in Kortrijk/Courtrai.
Umpire 2: Jonas Lazauskas (Lithuania) – LKL referee from 2022, has worked at the MLKL playoffs and the NKL Final Four.
Observer: Oskars Lucis (Latvia).
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube live stream
Landstede Hammers Zwolle vs Spartak Pleven
Series history: Landstede Hammers Zwolle and Spartak Pleven will face each other for the first time.
Both teams cannot qualify for the ENBL playoffs.
Key matchup: Noah Dickerson averages 14.8 points and 9.3 rebounds for the Landstede Hammers.
He shoots 56.8% from the floor and 73.9% from the charity stripe.
Nikolay Stoyanov averages 12.6 points and 3.4 rebounds for Spartak Pleven.
Bryant Thomas has 11.2 points and 4.4 rebounds.
National championships: Landstede Hammers Zwolle are 9-4 in the BNXT league.
Heroes Den Bosch lead the table with a 13-1 record, folloved by ZZ Leiden (11-3).
The Hammers are 1-1 in the ENBL home games.
Spartak Pleven are 12-6 in Bulgaria`s top division.
They share the third place with CSKA Sofia.
Spartak Pleven played its previous ENBL game at Svendborg without five players due to illnesses and injuries.
The Bulgarians are 0-3 in the ENBL road games.
Know your referees
Crew chief: Bert van Slooten (Netherlands) – Netherlands league from 2001, FIBA referee from 2005.
Umpire 1: Stefan Stefanov (Bulgaria) – referee from 2011, Bulgaria top division from 2018, FIBA referee from 2019.
Umpire 2: Stan Kestein (Netherlands) – has worked at the BNXT league playoffs and the Dutch Cup 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.