Liepaja Seek First Win in Latvian–Estonian League Against Riga's Ekselences Juniori

In the Latvian–Estonian basketball league (the Northern League tournament), hosts Liepaja will play the Riga team Rīgas Ekselences Juniori (REJ) on Sunday, 11 October, at 17:00. Liepaja have not yet won in three games, so they need a victory in their fourth. In the standings, Liepaja are 13th at 0–3, while REJ are fifth at 2–1.

Liepaja's setbacks and reinforcements

Liepaja missed out on a first win twice: away in Pärnu they lost after disputed refereeing calls, and at home against Estonian champions Tartu University they failed to hold on to a lead late in the game. Against VEF Riga they had no realistic chance.

American perimeter player Julian Bryant was injured early in the season and has not been able to help the team in league games so far. On Tuesday he returned in an ENBL (European North Basketball League) game against Swiss club Lausanne Foxes and helped Liepaja to their first win in that competition. American forward Dyson Koller, who won the Danish Cup last season, is also preparing for his debut.

The opponent

REJ have won two of three games. They narrowly missed beating champions Valmiera in their opener, then beat the University of Latvia side and Viimsi. Helmuts Petrovics played for Liepaja last season, while Roberts Valdis Berzins and Edgars Liekis are products of Liepaja basketball. The game will be broadcast on Best4Sport TV.

Other Latvian teams

Ventspils, last season's Latvian runners-up, play Keila Basket, who are still winless. The day before, Kristens Kasemets scored 23 points as Ventspils beat Tallinn's Kalev 86–73. Valmiera Glass/ViA visit Viimsi and share first place in the table with four wins.