Latvian National League basketball: RSU beat Gulbene, Kandava top Ķekava

Several games were played on 9 October in Latvia's National Basketball League, the country's second-tier men's championship. Reigning champions RSU beat Gulbenes Buki 101:90 in their home hall in Riga, Kandava's Anzāģe/Turība defeated Ķekava 113:84, and Limbaži won 85:54 in Jēkabpils.

RSU vs Gulbenes Buki

RSU's roster has changed heavily since last season: of last year's leading players only Alberts Putāns and Artūrs Ozols remain, and point-guard duties have passed to Ralfs Aleksandrovs, who previously played for Gulbene. Gulbene were without Jānis Engers and Sandis Bēts.

The first half went slightly better for Gulbene, who led 44:41 at the break. RSU opened the second half with seven straight points and took control. They led by seven going into the final quarter, and Gulbene never got closer than four points. It was RSU's third win of the season.

Ozols topped the scoring for RSU with 27 points, six rebounds and seven assists. Putāns added 16 points and Rihards Fortiņš 13. For Gulbene, Ritvars Nikolajevs scored 19 and captain Ingars Aizpurs 17.

Kandava vs Ķekava

It was Kandava's first league game of the season. The gap was six points after the first quarter, but by halftime Kandava led by 17, and the margin grew further in the third quarter. Eduards Avotiņš, who played for Ķekava before moving to Kandava, scored 28 points and made five of eight three-pointers. Guntars Strāķis added 19 and Markuss Mamajs 16. Roberts Porietis led Ķekava with 18.

Jēkabpils vs Limbaži

Limbaži won for the third time in a row. They led 43:27 at halftime. It was Jēkabpils's second defeat of the season, after they were also knocked out in the first round of the Latvian Cup. For Limbaži, Miks Antoms scored 19 points with 12 rebounds, and Edmunds Elksnis had 14 points and nine assists. Kristers Elksnītis led Jēkabpils with 13 points.