JELGAVA, Latvia — The final six teams have been found for this year’s Baltic Basketball League playoffs.
On account of finishing first and second following regular season, Lithuanian powerhouses Lietuvos Rytas and Žalgiris have earned automatic entry to the semifinals, with four teams left to jostle it out for the remaining two semifinal spots.
Those four include a third team from Lithuania, Šiauliai; two Latvian teams, VEF Riga and Ventspils; and Rock who will be the sole team representing Estonia.
The preliminary semi-finals, beginning on Mar. 24 will be best of three series with Ventspils set to take on VEF Riga and Šiauliai muscling up [private_supervisor]against Rock. On account of finishing third and fourth respectively, Ventspils and Šiauliai will have the advantage of playing two of the three games on their home court.
Šiauliai, no pun intended, have been rock solid at home this season and should move through to the next stage without too many problems. However, Rock who were surprise finalists last year will be expecting to do no worse than pull a repeat performance this year.
The Ventspils-VEF Riga game is expected to create somewhat more intrigue and is almost guaranteed to go to three games. Whilst struggling away from Latvia, VEF Riga have been putting in some fine performances at home and are leading the domestic competition for good reason. With a more experienced roster and latest signing, New Zealander Craig Bradshaw also expected to play, VEF Riga are going to prove a real handful for a young Ventspils side.
Mar. 24 Ventspils vs. VEF Riga
Mar. 25 Siauliai vs. Rock
Mar. 26 VEF Riga vs. Ventspils
Mar. 27 Rock vs. Siauliai
Mar. 31 (if required) Ventspils vs. VEF Riga
Mar. 31 (if required) Siauliai vs. Rock [/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]against Rock. On account of finishing third and fourth respectively, Ventspils and Šiauliai will have the advantage of playing two of the three games on their home court.
Šiauliai, no pun intended, have been rock solid at home this season and should move through to the next stage without too many problems. However, Rock who were surprise finalists last year will be expecting to do no worse than pull a repeat performance this year.
The Ventspils-VEF Riga game is expected to create somewhat more intrigue and is almost guaranteed to go to three games. Whilst struggling away from Latvia, VEF Riga have been putting in some fine performances at home and are leading the domestic competition for good reason. With a more experienced roster and latest signing, New Zealander Craig Bradshaw also expected to play, VEF Riga are going to prove a real handful for a young Ventspils side.
Mar. 24 Ventspils vs. VEF Riga
Mar. 25 Siauliai vs. Rock
Mar. 26 VEF Riga vs. Ventspils
Mar. 27 Rock vs. Siauliai
Mar. 31 (if required) Ventspils vs. VEF Riga
Mar. 31 (if required) Siauliai vs. Rock [/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]against Rock. On account of finishing third and fourth respectively, Ventspils and Šiauliai will have the advantage of playing two of the three games on their home court.
Šiauliai, no pun intended, have been rock solid at home this season and should move through to the next stage without too many problems. However, Rock who were surprise finalists last year will be expecting to do no worse than pull a repeat performance this year.
The Ventspils-VEF Riga game is expected to create somewhat more intrigue and is almost guaranteed to go to three games. Whilst struggling away from Latvia, VEF Riga have been putting in some fine performances at home and are leading the domestic competition for good reason. With a more experienced roster and latest signing, New Zealander Craig Bradshaw also expected to play, VEF Riga are going to prove a real handful for a young Ventspils side.
Mar. 24 Ventspils vs. VEF Riga
Mar. 25 Siauliai vs. Rock
Mar. 26 VEF Riga vs. Ventspils
Mar. 27 Rock vs. Siauliai
Mar. 31 (if required) Ventspils vs. VEF Riga
Mar. 31 (if required) Siauliai vs. Rock [/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]against Rock. On account of finishing third and fourth respectively, Ventspils and Šiauliai will have the advantage of playing two of the three games on their home court.
Šiauliai, no pun intended, have been rock solid at home this season and should move through to the next stage without too many problems. However, Rock who were surprise finalists last year will be expecting to do no worse than pull a repeat performance this year.
The Ventspils-VEF Riga game is expected to create somewhat more intrigue and is almost guaranteed to go to three games. Whilst struggling away from Latvia, VEF Riga have been putting in some fine performances at home and are leading the domestic competition for good reason. With a more experienced roster and latest signing, New Zealander Craig Bradshaw also expected to play, VEF Riga are going to prove a real handful for a young Ventspils side.
Mar. 24 Ventspils vs. VEF Riga
Mar. 25 Siauliai vs. Rock
Mar. 26 VEF Riga vs. Ventspils
Mar. 27 Rock vs. Siauliai
Mar. 31 (if required) Ventspils vs. VEF Riga
Mar. 31 (if required) Siauliai vs. Rock [/private_subscription 1 year]
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