“VEF Riga” was superior with 83:65 (14:11, 20:22, 25:13, 24:19).
Elijah Clarence collected 25 points, seven rebounds and six provoked points for the winners. 18 points, ten rebounds and eight provoked fouls on Nayser Brooks’ account, hitting seven of eight shots from the game, Krister Zorik scored 17 points, Glen Causey scored 12.
For the home team, Mārtiņš Meiers collected three points, three rebounds and three errors in 18.5 minutes, as well as four notes and provoked fouls against the opponent.
Sigmars Raimo did not score in 12.5 minutes.
Oleksandrs Kovlyars was the top scorer for the hosts with 18 points, who ended the game early due to five personal notes. Wesley van Beek collected 16 points and six rebounds.
In the low-scoring first quarter, the home team Wesley van Beek scored the first basket after 35 seconds played, but after Hugo Tom’s accurate penalty kick, the home team gained the biggest lead in the quarter – 3-0.
The Latvian team responded with a three-point move (3:3), but with two more points, Artis Ate put the people of Riga in the lead – 5:3.
After Glenn Cousy made a 7-6 lead with a two-pointer, the “Weffians” were in a small lead throughout the quarter.
With Zorik’s three-point shot in the 33rd second of the second quarter, the biggest advantage was achieved until then – 17:11.
Despite the fact that the Estonians did not have long shots, they used their quick attacks well, and the score grew similarly.
After Tanel Kurbas’ long shot, the home team gained the biggest lead – 33:29.
The decisive word in the first half belonged to Nayser Brooks, who made a two-point shot from under the basket 21 seconds before the end of the half and regained the lead for the visitors with 34:33.
In the third quarter, the people of Riga never allowed the home team to take the lead, increasing the advantage to 13 points (55:42) after two accurate free throws by Brooks 70 seconds before the break.
Elijah Clarence stood out with the most effective element three minutes and 14 seconds before the end of the quarter, who blocked Tom with a high jump.
In the last quarter, the advantage of “Vefians” was basically 12 to 15 points.
In the second semi-final, “Prometey” from Slobojanska beat “University of Tartu”/”Maks & Moorits” led by Nikolaj Mazur with 89:67 (18:12, 27:11, 22:18, 22:26). The finals will take place on Saturday.
The Tallinna played the second leg of the FIBA European Cup semi-final in Shole on Wednesday and only arrived in the Estonian capital today as all the team’s flights were canceled due to strikes in France.
“VEF Rīga” took third place in the tournament table with 24 victories in 30 games, while “Kalev”/”Cramo” represented by Mārtiņš Meiers and Zigmārs Raimo achieved one more success and was second. In the quarterfinals, the Riga team beat “Avis”/”Utilitas” from Rapla with 2-0, and the Tallinn team also dealt with “Ogri” in two matches.
In the main tournament, the hosts celebrated safe victories in both games – in Tallinn the match ended with the result 78:66, and in Riga – with 91:67.
ULEB Eurocup round of 16 “Prometey” achieved 29 successes in the main tournament and was first, while Tartu basketball players were fourth with 20 victories. “Prometey” overcame the barrier of the quarter-finals by beating “Viimsi” represented by Ronald Zakis 2-1 in a tough series, but the team led by Mazura was superior to “Ventspili” 2-1.
“Prometey” won both matches of the main tournament – 101:64 in Riga and 91:73 in Tartu.
Latvia is represented in the tournament by six teams – “VEF Rīga”, “Ventspils”, “Ogre”, “University of Latvia”, “Valmiera Glass”/”Vidzemes Augstskola” and “Liepāja”. Estonia is represented by nine teams – “Parnu Sadam”, “University of Tartu”/”Maks & Moorits”, Tallinn “Kalev”/”Cramo”, Tallinn “TalTech”, Rapla “Avis Utilitas”, Rakvere “Tarvas”, Tallinn ” Kalev”/”Audentes”, “Viimsi” and newcomer “Keila”. The Ukrainian team “Prometey” of Slobojansk also competes in the tournament. The Ukrainian team is participating in the LIBL competition for the first time.
The best men’s basketball clubs of Latvia and Estonia played in a joint championship for the first time in the 2019 season, when 15 teams participated. In the “Final 4” tournament, “Ventspils” basketball players became the first winners of the league.
Last year, “VEF Rīga” basketball players were crowned LIBL champions, who beat “Viimsi” in the decisive match, while “Parna Sadam” won bronze.