Round 13 (Regular Season): Rigas Z. is defeated by Prometey

There will be only one (last) round of the Regular Season in Lat-Est BL. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game between second ranked Latvian Rigas Z. (6-2) and fifth ranked Ukrainian Prometey (6-1) was the most important one in the last round on Friday night. Rigas Z. was defeated by Prometey in Kamianske 92-79. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Rigas Z.. It was a key game for the second position in the league. Prometey looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. 27 personal fouls committed by Rigas Z. helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. American swingman Ronald March (196-1993, college: Philander Smith) stepped up and scored 20 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals for the winners and his fellow American import center Tai Odiase (206-1995, college: UIC) chipped in 20 points and 5 rebounds. At the losing side Davids Viksne (195-2000) responded with 14 points and 6 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Prometey moved-up to second place. Rigas Z. at the other side dropped to the third position with two games lost. They share it with Tartu.
Lat-Est BL top team - Estonian Kalev/Cramo (8-0) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed seventh ranked Latvian BK Ogre (5-5) in Tallinn 106-51. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of BK Ogre. Chilean-Spanish center Manny Suarez (208-1993, college: Creighton) nailed 16 points and 6 rebounds for the winning side and Kregor Hermet accounted for 11 points and 6 rebounds. American power forward Andrew Corum (201-1997, college: Virginia St.) came up with 11 points and 8 rebounds for BK Ogre in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Undefeated Kalev/Cramo have an impressive series of five victories in a row. Defending Estonian champion maintains first place with 8-0 record. BK Ogre at the other side dropped to the eighth position with five games lost.

There were no shocking results in the rest of the games of round 13: Tallinna Kalev was destroyed by Liepaja on the opponent's court 87-63. Valmiera Glass unfortunately lost to Keila in a home game 80-90. Tallinna Kalev were rolled over Ventspils on the road 66-93.



Liepaja - Tallinna Kalev 87-63

Very expected game when 13th ranked Estonian Tallinna Kalev (2-7) was crushed on the road by eighth ranked Latvian Liepaja (5-3) 87-63. Liepaja players were unselfish on offense dishing 23 assists. Tallinna Kalev was plagued by 24 personal fouls down the stretch. Point guard Emils Krumins (185-2001) nailed 21 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals for the winning side and center Klavs Dubults (206-1996) accounted for 12 points and 9 rebounds. Four Liepaja players scored in double figures. Mario Paiste (188-1989) came up with 10 points and 6 rebounds and Estonian point guard Eric Schmalz (185-1999) added 6 points and 6 assists respectively for Tallinna Kalev in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Liepaja have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to sixth place. Tallinna Kalev lost seventh consecutive game. They keep the thirteenth position with seven games lost. Liepaja will play against VEF Riga (#9) at home in the next round. Tallinna Kalev will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Liepaja: E.Krumins 21+5reb+5ast, R.Vitolskis 12+3reb+2ast, K.Dubults 12+9reb+2ast, K.Kilps 10+2reb+7ast, K.Sulcs 10+4reb, O.Berzins 9+3reb+4ast
Tallinna Kalev: M.Paiste 10+6reb+2ast, M.Jaakson 9+4reb, T.Raadik 8+2reb, B.Raley-Ross 8+3reb+1ast, J.Moore 7+6reb+1ast, D.Tykhonov 7+6reb

Kalev/Cramo - BK Ogre 106-51

Lat-Est BL top team - Estonian Kalev/Cramo (8-0) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed seventh ranked Latvian BK Ogre (5-5) in Tallinn 106-51. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of BK Ogre. Kalev/Cramo dominated down low during the game scoring 56 of its points in the paint compared to BK Ogre's 26 and made 23-of-27 charity shots (85.2 percent) during the game. They outrebounded BK Ogre 44-30 including a 31-15 advantage in defensive rebounds. Kalev/Cramo players were unselfish on offense dishing 27 assists comparing to just 9 passes made by BK Ogre's players. Chilean-Spanish center Manny Suarez (208-1993, college: Creighton) nailed 16 points and 6 rebounds for the winning side and Kregor Hermet (204-1997) accounted for 11 points and 6 rebounds. Five Kalev/Cramo players scored in double figures. American power forward Andrew Corum (201-1997, college: Virginia St.) came up with 11 points and 8 rebounds and Lithuanian center Matas Jucikas (205-1994, agency: BIG) added 9 points respectively for BK Ogre in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Kalev/Cramo have an impressive series of five victories in a row. Defending Estonian champion maintains first place with 8-0 record. BK Ogre at the other side dropped to the eighth position with five games lost.
Top scorers:
Kalev/Cramo: M.Suarez 16+6reb, L.Bockler 13+4reb, M.Kirves 12+3reb, K.Hermet 11+6reb+3ast, T.Hugo 10+7reb+3ast, O.Kovliar 10+1reb+5ast
BK Ogre: A.Corum 11+8reb, M.Jucikas 9+4reb, N.Johnson 6+1reb+2ast, M.Kulackovskis 5+3reb+3ast, G.Kampuss 4+1reb+1ast, K.Apsitis 4+4reb+1ast

Valmiera Glass - Keila 80-90

Rather predictable result when eleventh ranked Estonian Keila (4-5) defeated on the road 14th ranked Latvian Valmiera Glass (2-8) 90-80. Keila dominated down low during the game scoring 52 of its points in the paint compared to Valmiera Glass' 30. Keila players were unselfish on offense dishing 22 assists. Kristen Kasemets (191-2002) nailed 22 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists for the winning side and American point guard Kevin Johnson (183-1999, college: UIC) accounted for 15 points and 7 rebounds. Five Keila players scored in double figures. Keila's coach allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Point guard Edmunds Elksnis (187-1990) came up with 21 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists and American guard Seneca Knight (198, college: Illinois St.) added 21 points respectively for Valmiera Glass in the defeat. Keila maintains eleventh place with 4-5 record. Valmiera Glass lost their fifth game in a row. They keep the fourteenth position with eight games lost. They share it with LU.
Top scorers:
Keila: K.Kristen 22+5reb+7ast, K.Johnson 15+7reb+1ast, D.Krestinin 12+8reb+3ast, A.Myronenko 11+4reb, L.Majstorovic 10+5reb+2ast, K.Saks 8+1reb+1ast
Valmiera Glass: S.Knight 21+3reb+1ast, E.Elksnis 21+7reb+7ast, G.Sipolins 7+6reb+1ast, J.Kaufmanis 7+2reb+5ast, T.Cherry 7+5reb, K.Kristofers 6+2reb

Ventspils - Tallinna Kalev 93-66

Not a big story in a game when 13th ranked Estonian Tallinna Kalev (2-7) was rolled over on the road by tenth ranked Latvian Ventspils (5-4) 93-66. Ventspils made 22-of-26 charity shots (84.6 percent) during the game. Ventspils outrebounded Tallinna Kalev 46-33 including 32 on the defensive glass. Tallinna Kalev was plagued by 24 personal fouls down the stretch. Linards Jaunzems (200-1995) nailed a double-double by scoring 22 points and 14 rebounds for the winning side and Arturs Ausejs (192-1990) accounted for 18 points and 4 assists. Erik Keedus (199-1990, agency: Players Group) came up with 13 points and 6 rebounds and Mario Paiste (188-1989) added 7 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for Tallinna Kalev in the defeat. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Ventspils moved-up to seventh place. Tallinna Kalev lost their seventh game in a row. They keep the thirteenth position with seven games lost.
Top scorers:
Ventspils: L.Jaunzems 22+14reb+3ast, A.Ausejs 18+4reb+4ast, D.Francis 13+5reb+3ast, T.Vasiljevic 8+6reb+2ast, R.Zakis 8+4reb+1ast, I.El-Amin 7+2reb
Tallinna Kalev: E.Keedus 13+6reb, T.Gaskins 10+3reb+1ast, B.Raley-Ross 8+3reb+1ast, J.Moore 8+6reb, E.Schmalz 7+2reb+2ast, T.Raadik 7+2reb

Prometey - Rigas Z. 92-79

The game between second ranked Latvian Rigas Z. (6-2) and fifth ranked Ukrainian Prometey (6-1) was the most important one in the last round on Friday night. Rigas Z. was defeated by Prometey in Kamianske 92-79. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Rigas Z.. It was a key game for the second position in the league. Prometey looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. 27 personal fouls committed by Rigas Z. helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. American swingman Ronald March (196-1993, college: Philander Smith) stepped up and scored 20 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals for the winners and his fellow American import center Tai Odiase (206-1995, college: UIC) chipped in 20 points and 5 rebounds. March is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Four Prometey players scored in double figures. At the losing side Davids Viksne (195-2000) responded with 14 points and 6 rebounds and Canadian guard Isiah Osborne (196-1996, college: Carleton, agency: VM Hoops Agency) scored 18 points. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Prometey moved-up to second place. Rigas Z. at the other side dropped to the third position with two games lost. They share it with Tartu.
Top scorers:
Prometey: T.Odiase 20+5reb, R.March 20+7reb+6ast, C.Agada 14+3reb+2ast, O.Balvin 11+6reb+1ast, O.Lypovyy 6+4reb+3ast, V.Bobrov 6+3reb+1ast
Rigas Z.: I.Osborne 18+1reb+3ast, D.Viksne 14+6reb+2ast, F.Lacis 13+6reb+2ast, S.Toms 9+2reb+2ast, V.Juris 8+3reb+3ast, Z.Raimo 6+6reb+3ast