2018–19 Latvian–Estonian Basketball League

Estonian-Latvian Basketball League
Saku Suurhall in Tallinn hosted the Final Four
Season2018–19
Duration28 September 2018 – 6 April 2019
Number of games222
Number of teams15
TV partner(s)Best4Sport TV, TTV, Delfi TV
Regular season
Season MVPLatvia Rihards Lomažs
Finals
ChampionsLatvia Ventspils (1st title)
  Runners-upLatvia VEF Rīga
Third placeEstonia Kalev/Cramo
Fourth placeLatvia Ogre
Statistical leaders
Points United States Justin Johnson 21.4
Rebounds Latvia Jurijs Aleksejevs 9.3
Assists United States Tony Wroten 7.6

The 2018–19 Latvian–Estonian Basketball League, known as OlyBet Latvian–Estonian Basketball League for sponsorship reasons, was the inaugural season of the newly formed Latvian–Estonian Basketball League, the combined top basketball division of Latvia and Estonia.

The season began on 28 September 2018, with the 2018 Estonian champions Kalev/Cramo hosting a game against the 2018 Latvian champions Ventspils. The Final Four was played at the Saku Suurhall in Tallinn, Estonia, with Ventspils winning the inaugural title.

Competition format

The competition format follows the usual double round-robin format. During the course of the regular season, which lasts from 28 September 2018 to 24 March 2018, all the teams play each other twice, once at home and once away, for a total of 28 games. Teams receive two points for a win and one point for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, with the eight highest-ranked teams advancing to the double-legged quarter-finals. The winning teams will determine the champion in a Final Four tournament.[1][2][3]

Teams

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Location of the 2018–19 Latvian–Estonian Basketball League teams

15 teams, 7 from Estonia and 8 from Latvia, are contesting the league in the 2018–19 season.

Venues and locations

Team Home city Arena
Estonia Avis Utilitas Rapla Rapla Sadolin Sports Hall
Latvia Jūrmala Betsafe Jūrmala Jurmala State Gymnasium Sports Hall
Latvia Jēkabpils/SMScredit.lv Jēkabpils Jēkabpils Sports Hall
Estonia Kalev/Cramo Tallinn Kalev Sports Hall
Latvia Latvijas Universitāte Rīga Elektrum Olympic Sports Center
Latvia Liepāja Liepāja Liepāja Olympic Center
Latvia Ogre Ogre Ogre 1st Secondary School
Estonia Pärnu Sadam Pärnu Pärnu Sports Hall
Estonia Tallinna Kalev/TLÜ Tallinn Sõle Sports Centre
Estonia TalTech Tallinn TalTech Sports Hall
Estonia Tartu Ülikool Tartu University of Tartu Sports Hall
Estonia Valga-Valka/Maks & Moorits Valga Valga Sports Hall
Latvia Valmiera Glass VIA Valmiera Vidzeme Olympic Center
Latvia VEF Rīga Rīga Elektrum Olympic Sports Center
Latvia Ventspils Ventspils Ventspils Olympic Center

Personnel and sponsorship

Team Head coach Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Estonia Avis Utilitas Rapla Estonia Toomas Annuk Estonia Indrek Kajupank Spalding Fenikss Casino
Latvia Jūrmala Betsafe Latvia Mārtiņš Gulbis Latvia Uģis Pinete Spalding Betsafe
Latvia Jēkabpils/SMScredit.lv Serbia Marko Žarković Latvia Rodrigo Būmeisters Joma PATA
Estonia Kalev/Cramo Lithuania Donaldas Kairys Estonia Kristjan Kangur Nike Cramo
Latvia Latvijas Universitāte Latvia Guntis Endzels Latvia Linards Jaunzems Nike University of Latvia
Latvia Liepāja Latvia Artūrs Štālbergs Latvia Mareks Jurevičus Erreà
Latvia Ogre Latvia Artūrs Visockis-Rubenis Latvia Kristaps Dārgais Erreà Kronus
Estonia Pärnu Sadam Estonia Heiko Rannula Estonia Rannar Raap Nike Port of Pärnu
Estonia Tallinna Kalev/TLÜ Estonia Martin Müürsepp Estonia Mario Paiste Nike City of Tallinn
Estonia TalTech Estonia Rait Käbin Estonia Jaan Puidet Nike Tallinn University of Technology
Estonia Tartu Ülikool Estonia Priit Vene Lithuania Julius Kazakauskas Nike University of Tartu
Estonia Valga-Valka/Maks & Moorits Russia Mikhail Karpenko Estonia Timo Eichfuss Teamshield SynotTip
Latvia Valmiera Glass ViA Latvia Roberts Zeile Latvia Jānis Kaufmanis Spalding Valmiera Glass
Latvia VEF Rīga Latvia Jānis Gailītis Latvia Mareks Mejeris Adidas Mākslai vajag telpu
Latvia Ventspils Latvia Roberts Štelmahers Latvia Māris Gulbis Joma Port of Ventspils

Regular season

League table

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD PCT Qualification
1 Latvia Ventspils 28 27 1 2516 1996 +520 .964 Advanced to play-offs and national championships
2 Latvia VEF Rīga 28 26 2 2567 1931 +636 .929
3 Estonia Kalev/Cramo 28 25 3 2583 2046 +537 .893
4 Latvia Ogre 28 18 10 2533 2307 +226 .643
5 Estonia TalTech 28 16 12 2306 2297 +9 .571
6 Estonia Tartu Ülikool 28 14 14 2202 2249 −47 .500
7 Estonia Avis Utilitas Rapla 28 13 15 2242 2284 −42 .464[a]
8 Estonia Pärnu Sadam 28 13 15 2156 2222 −66 .464[a]
9 Latvia Jūrmala Betsafe 28 13 15 2175 2232 −57 .464[a] Qualification for Latvian championship
10 Estonia Tallinna Kalev/TLÜ 28 12 16 2276 2250 +26 .429 Qualification for Estonian championship
11 Latvia Latvijas Universitāte 28 9 19 1972 2193 −221 .321 Qualification for Latvian championship
12 Latvia Valmiera Glass/ViA 28 8 20 2214 2414 −200 .286
13 Latvia Liepāja 28 7 21 2151 2500 −349 .250[b]
14 Estonia Valga-Valka/Maks & Moorits 28 7 21 1976 2286 −310 .250[b]
15 Latvia Jēkabpils/SMScredit.lv 28 2 26 1884 2546 −662 .071
Source: estlatbl.com
Notes:
  1. ^ a b c Rapla 2–2 (+10); Pärnu 2–2 (-1); Jūrmala 2–2 (-9)
  2. ^ a b Liepāja 2–0 Valga-Valka

Results

Home \ Away RAP JUR JEK KAL LAT LIE OGR PAR TLU TCH TRT VLG VIA VEF VEN
Avis Utilitas Rapla — 68–71 104–80 77–84 77–74 99–96 83–95 94–85 69–87 71–89 97–71 81–83 100–88 71–77 72–93
Jūrmala Betsafe 67–60 — 79–61 66–78 80–62 101–96 90–84 89–93 71–74 82–85 89–95 66–85 81–69 73–96 62–72
Jēkabpils/SMScredit.lv 69–79 72–77 — 64–102 57–90 71–63 68–113 78–85 54–88 65–76 74–93 61–79 49–71 68–123 58–115
Kalev/Cramo 81–68 103–84 104–56 — 94–69 97–57 118–92 88–77 93–92 107–68 104–71 97–59 88–79 82–91 97–85
Latvijas Universitāte 75–97 55–62 89–76 71–97 — 78–70 60–86 75–70 53–66 78–76 72–77 76–84 80–71 64–91 61–89
Liepāja 82–89 81–87 81–65 80–107 70–78 — 75–93 62–93 94–88 91–98 89–78 85–76 73–71 70–106 66–110
Ogre 84–77 104–83 106–72 78–93 62–67 95–68 — 99–74 94–77 97–102 99–89 86–73 92–71 75–90 92–94
Pärnu Sadam 62–73 87–72 76–67 66–93 82–64 96–83 79–86 — 70–65 48–70 76–82 91–79 87–82 72–76 72–82
Tallinna Kalev/TLÜ 83–86 96–99 85–82 72–79 84–88 73–60 83–81 85–91 — 76–81 82–84 87–61 120–109 83–93 65–84
TalTech 82–78 80–75 110–71 66–100 84–78 99–82 84–92 91–84 83–99 — 86–94 78–66 99–73 72–95 78–92
Tartu Ülikool 85–76 79–59 101–55 58–77 82–64 86–68 91–94 52–68 75–66 79–68 — 71–72 70–76 75–81 59–85
Valga-Valka/Maks & Moorits 70–85 67–90 59–70 54–88 62–58 80–102 65–81 70–79 78–90 64–87 79–83 — 74–69 54–82 65–82
Valmiera Glass ViA 69–82 77–103 84–82 71–84 87–63 87–93 71–86 77–75 63–86 86–75 106–98 88–84 — 76–95 97–108
VEF Rīga 102–68 81–59 102–63 84–66 82–70 102–47 111–108 91–56 95–56 86–72 99–41 96–78 92–61 — 89–90
Ventspils 100–61 72–58 112–76 91–82 78–60 97–67 99–79 97–62 80–68 88–67 88–83 77–56 95–85 61–59 —
Source: estlatbl.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Red = away team win.

Play-offs

The quarter-finals were played with a double-legged format while the semi-finals and final in a Final Four format was hosted at the Saku Suurhall in Tallinn, Estonia.

Bracket

 
Quarter-finals
27 March – 2 April		Semi-finals
5 April		Final
6 April
 
                
 
 
 
 
Estonia Pärnu Sadam 8080160
 
 
 
Latvia Ventspils 8394 177
 
Latvia Ventspils 84
 
 
 
Latvia Ogre80
 
Estonia TalTech 8759146
 
 
 
Latvia Ogre 8185 166
 
Latvia Ventspils102
 
 
 
Latvia VEF Rīga80
 
Estonia Avis Utilitas Rapla 6571136
 
 
 
Latvia VEF Rīga 90121 211
 
Latvia VEF Rīga 90
 
 
 
Estonia Kalev/Cramo 80Third place
 
Estonia Tartu Ülikool 5959118
 
 
 
Estonia Kalev/Cramo 8496 180
 
Latvia Ogre 85
 
 
Estonia Kalev/Cramo 87
 

Quarter-finals

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Pärnu Sadam Estonia 160–177 Latvia Ventspils 80–83 80–94
Avis Utilitas Rapla Estonia 136–211 Latvia VEF Rīga 65–90 71–121
Tartu Ülikool Estonia 118–180 Estonia Kalev/Cramo 59–84 59–96
TalTech Estonia 146–166 Latvia Ogre 87–81 59–85

Semi-finals

Team 1  Score  Team 2
Ventspils Latvia 84–80 Latvia Ogre
VEF Rīga Latvia 90–80 Estonia Kalev/Cramo

Third place game

Team 1  Score  Team 2
Ogre Latvia 85–87 Estonia Kalev/Cramo

Final

Team 1  Score  Team 2
Ventspils Latvia 102–80 Latvia VEF Rīga

Individual statistics

Players qualify to this category by having at least 50% games played.

Points

Rank Name Team Games Points PPG
1 United States Justin Johnson Latvia Liepāja 27 579 21.44
2 Latvia Jānis Kaufmanis Latvia Valmiera Glass ViA 28 554 19.79
3 Lithuania Arnas Velička Estonia Tartu Ülikool 29 551 19.00
4 Latvia Linards Jaunzems Latvia Latvijas Universitāte 25 463 18.52
5 Estonia Toomas Raadik Estonia TalTech 30 531 17.70

Rebounds

Rank Name Team Games Rebounds RPG
1 Latvia Jurijs Aleksejevs Latvia Jēkabpils/SMScredit.lv / Latvia Jūrmala Betsafe 27 250 9.26
2 Lithuania Julius Kazakauskas Estonia Tartu Ülikool 27 230 8.52
3 Latvia Kristaps Dārgais Latvia Ogre 32 268 8.38
4 Estonia Mihkel Kirves Estonia Pärnu Sadam 29 241 8.31
5 Latvia Guntis Sīpoliņš Estonia Valga-Valka/Maks & Moorits / Latvia Liepāja 28 228 8.14

Assists

Rank Name Team Games Assists APG
1 United States Tony Wroten Estonia Kalev/Cramo 18 137 7.61
2 United States Aaron Johnson Latvia Ventspils 30 202 6.73
3 United States Jabril Durham Latvia VEF Rīga 28 180 6.43
4 Latvia Rinalds Sirsniņš Latvia Ogre 32 204 6.38
5 Estonia Norman Käbin Estonia TalTech 28 163 5.82

Awards

Most Valuable Player

Player of the Month

Month Player Team
October Lithuania Julius Kazakauskas Estonia Tartu Ülikool
November Latvia Kaspars Bērziņš Latvia Ogre
December Estonia Toomas Raadik Estonia TalTech
January United States Dominique Hawkins Estonia Avis Utilitas Rapla
February Estonia Toomas Raadik Estonia TalTech

Estonian championship

Main article: 2019 KML Play-offs

Bracket

 
QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinals
 
          
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kalev/Cramo3
 
 
 
Pärnu Sadam0
 
Avis Utilitas Rapla1
 
 
 
Pärnu Sadam3
 
Kalev/Cramo3
 
 
Tallinna Kalev/TLÜ0
 
 
 
 
 
TalTech0
 
 
 
Tallinna Kalev/TLÜ3 Third place
 
Tartu Ülikool1
 
 
 
Tallinna Kalev/TLÜ3
 
Pärnu Sadam3
 
 
TalTech0
 

Quarterfinals

Team 1 Series Team 2 Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Game 4 Game 5
Tartu Ülikool 1–3 Tallinna Kalev/TLÜ 78–73 70–87 77–83 96–97 0
Avis Utilitas Rapla 1–3 Pärnu Sadam 60–83 57–82 82–80 76–88 0

Semifinals

Team 1 Series Team 2 Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Game 4 Game 5
Kalev/Cramo 3–0 Pärnu Sadam 91–85 102–62 89–72 0 0
TalTech 0–3 Tallinna Kalev/TLÜ 75–78 86–94 92–97 0 0

Third place series

Team 1 Series Team 2 Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Game 4 Game 5
Pärnu Sadam 3–0 TalTech 75–68 79–73 89–63 0 0

Finals

Team 1 Series Team 2 Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Game 4 Game 5
Kalev/Cramo 3–0 Tallinna Kalev/TLÜ 87–78 101–73 105–83 0 0

Latvian championship

The six best Latvian teams qualified for the national play-offs, that started on 10 April 2019.[4]

Quarterfinals and semifinals are played in a best-of-five games format (1-1-1-1-1) while the final in a best of seven one.

Bracket

 
QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinals
 
          
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ventspils3
 
 
 
Jūrmala Betsafe0
 
Jūrmala Betsafe3
 
 
 
Latvijas Universitāte0
 
Ventspils1
 
 
VEF Rīga4
 
 
 
 
 
VEF Rīga3
 
 
 
Ogre0 Third place
 
Ogre3
 
 
 
Valmiera Glass ViA0
 
Ogre3
 
 
Jūrmala Betsafe0
 

Quarterfinals

Team 1 Series Team 2 Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Game 4 Game 5
Ogre 3–0 Valmiera Glass ViA 100–81 93–82 73–67 0 0
Jūrmala Betsafe 3–0 Latvijas Universitāte 72–56 60–55 90–59 0 0

Semifinals

Team 1 Series Team 2 Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Game 4 Game 5
Ventspils 3–0 Jūrmala Betsafe 86–78 91–63 85–72 0 0
VEF Rīga 3–0 Ogre 110–71 104–77 90–85 0 0

Third place series

The team with the higher seed played game one, two, five and seven (if necessary) at home.

Team 1 Series Team 2 Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Game 4 Game 5
Ogre 3–0 Jūrmala Betsafe 78–60 97–90 83–78 0 0

Finals

Team 1 Series Team 2 Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Game 4 Game 5 Game 6 Game 7
Ventspils 1–4 VEF Rīga 75–81 80–71 77–81 90–98 69–82 0 0

Estonian and Latvian clubs in European competitions

Team Competition Progress
Latvia Ventspils Champions League Regular season
FIBA Europe Cup Round of 16

References

  1. ^ "15 teams participating in OlyBet Latvian-Estonian Basketball League". estlatbl.com. 25 September 2018.
  2. ^ "BK "Jēkabpils" apstiprina līdzdalību Latvijas – Igaunijas apvienotajā līgā" [BC "Jekabpils" confirms the participation in the Latvian-Estonian league] (in Latvian). Basket.lv. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  3. ^ "Latvijas – Igaunijas apvienotā līga: apstiprināti klubu pieteikumi un izspēles sistēma" (in Latvian). Basket.lv. 9 August 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  4. ^ "Vīriešu klubu turnīra oficiālais nosaukums – OlyBet Latvijas – Igaunijas Basketbola līga". Basket.lv. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2018.

External links