Round 18 (Regular Season): Rigas Z. is defeated by Kalev/Cramo

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most important game in the last round took place in Riga between third ranked Latvian Rigas Z. (15-5) and seventh ranked Estonian Kalev/Cramo (14-6) on Saturday night. Rigas Z. was crushed by Kalev/Cramo at home 92-70. Kalev/Cramo looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists comparing to just 9 passes made by Rigas Z.'s players. Point guard Mart Rosenthal (196-1999) scored 18 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists to lead the charge for the winners and Latvian Anrijs Miska (208-2000) chipped in 13 points and 9 rebounds during the contest. Kalev/Cramo's coach felt very confident that he used 10 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The best for the losing side was American forward Frankie Fidler (201-2003, college: Michigan St.) with 16 points and 8 rebounds. Kalev/Cramo have an impressive five-game winning streak. Defending Estonian champion moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Valmiera Glass. Rigas Z. at the other side keeps the third position with five games lost. Kalev/Cramo is looking forward to face Liepaja (#11) on the road in the next round where they are favorite. Rigas Z. will play against the league's leader Tartu (#1) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Very important is a road loss of third ranked Latvian Ventspils (15-6) against tenth ranked Estonian Viimsi (5-16) on Sunday night. Visiting Ventspils were edged by Viimsi in a tough game in Viimsi 81-83. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Ventspils. American forward Kevin Baker (205-1998, college: LC State, agency: Starting 5) notched 28 points and 9 rebounds to lead the effort and Kaspar Kuusmaa supported him with 11 points and 9 assists. Viimsi's coach used entire bench in such tough game. Even 26 points and 8 rebounds by American center Bryant Thomas (203-1999, college: C-N, agency: Olsta) did not help to save the game for Ventspils. Viimsi maintains tenth position with 5-16 record. Ventspils at the other side dropped to the fourth place with six games lost. Viimsi will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Ventspils will play at home against the league's second-placed VEF Riga (#2) where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.
Lat-Est BL top team - Estonian Tartu (19-2) managed to deliver another win on Saturday. This time they beat tenth ranked Latvian Liepaja (4-16) 87-77. The best player for the winners was Karl-Johan Lips who scored 12 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was Ilja Kurucs who recorded 14 points and 5 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Tartu have a solid four-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 19-2 record. Loser Liepaja dropped to the eleventh place with 16 games lost. Tartu will meet at home Rigas Z. (#3) in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Liepaja will play against Kalev/Cramo (#5) and hope to secure a win.

There were no shocking results in the other games in round 18: VEF Riga destroyed TalTech on the opponent's court 102-75. Parnu managed to outperform LU in a home game 72-71. Ventspils managed to beat Keila KK on the road 84-80.



TalTech - VEF Riga 75-102

Rather expected game in Tallinn where 6th ranked Estonian TalTech (14-7) was crushed by third ranked Latvian VEF Riga (16-4) 102-75 on Saturday. VEF Riga shot 61.0 percent from the field and made 20-of-24 free shots (83.3 percent) during the game. VEF Riga outrebounded TalTech 37-25 including a 30-17 advantage in defensive rebounds. The best player for the winners was American Curtis Hollis (198-1998, college: Hutchinson) who had a double-double by scoring 16 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. The other American import point guard Kamau Stokes (183-1995, college: Kansas St.) chipped in 21 points and 4 assists. Stokes is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Four VEF Riga players scored in double figures. Coach 's team controlled all game and the coach could let to play 11 players and allowed the starting five to rest. At the other side the best for losing team was point guard Siim-Markus Post (184-1997) who recorded 22 points and point guard Ran Andre Pehka (192-2001, college: UC Davis) added 13 points respectively. VEF Riga have a solid three-game winning streak. Defending Latvian champion moved-up to second place. Loser TalTech dropped to the seventh position with seven games lost. VEF Riga will meet Ventspils (#4) on the road in the next round. TalTech will play against BK Ogre and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
VEF Riga: S.Kamau 21+2reb+4ast, H.Curtis 16+10reb+5ast, B.Dairis 15+2ast, B.Rodrigo 11+5reb+4ast, S.Illya 9+2reb+1ast, K.Kristaps 9+6reb+2ast
TalTech: S.Post 22+3reb+3ast, O.Suurorg 14+2reb, P.Ran Andre 13+2reb+1ast, T.Niits 9+4reb, M.Oliver 8+4reb+4ast, S.Indrek 5+3reb

Parnu - LU 72-71

Rather predictable result when ninth ranked Estonian Parnu (10-12) edged at home 13th ranked Latvian LU (3-17) 72-71 on Saturday. However just one-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. Strangely LU outrebounded Parnu 48-33 including 33 on the defensive glass. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. The best player for the winners was American point guard Devin Harris (182-1992, college: OKWU) who scored 16 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. point guard Gregor Ilves (192-1999) chipped in 11 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was American guard Zion Styles (190-2000, college: UMES) who recorded 21 points and 8 rebounds and point guard Francis Neilands (194-2005) added 16 points and 8 rebounds respectively. Four LU players scored in double figures. Parnu maintains ninth position with 10-12 record. Loser LU keeps the thirteenth place with 17 games lost. Parnu will meet at home league's second-placed VEF Riga in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. LU will play against Kalev/Cramo (#5) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Parnu: H.Devin 16+7reb+6ast, I.Gregor 11+5reb+5ast, M.Yusuf 9+5reb, E.Hendrik 9+2reb+1ast, S.Aav 7+1reb, J.Daniel 7+3reb+6ast
LU: S.Zion 21+8reb+2ast, N.Francis 16+8reb+2ast, D.Rudis 14+9reb+1ast, K.Arturs 12+3reb+1ast, D.Verners 6+4reb, T.Jarrett 2+3reb+1ast

Rigas Z. - Kalev/Cramo 70-92

The most important game in the last round took place in Riga between third ranked Latvian Rigas Z. (15-5) and seventh ranked Estonian Kalev/Cramo (14-6) on Saturday night. Rigas Z. was crushed by Kalev/Cramo at home 92-70. Kalev/Cramo looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists comparing to just 9 passes made by Rigas Z.'s players. Point guard Mart Rosenthal (196-1999) scored 18 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists to lead the charge for the winners and Latvian Anrijs Miska (208-2000) chipped in 13 points and 9 rebounds during the contest. Four Kalev/Cramo players scored in double figures. Kalev/Cramo's coach felt very confident that he used 10 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The best for the losing side was American forward Frankie Fidler (201-2003, college: Michigan St.) with 16 points and 8 rebounds and forward Janis Berzins (201-1993) scored 15 points and 9 rebounds. Kalev/Cramo have an impressive five-game winning streak. Defending Estonian champion moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Valmiera Glass. Rigas Z. at the other side keeps the third position with five games lost. Kalev/Cramo is looking forward to face Liepaja (#11) on the road in the next round where they are favorite. Rigas Z. will play against the league's leader Tartu (#1) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Kalev/Cramo: R.Mart 18+6reb+4ast, T.Hugo 17+3reb, M.Anrijs 13+9reb+2ast, K.Severi 13+4ast, J.Stephon 9+9reb+3ast, K.Gregor 6+9reb+2ast
Rigas Z.: F.Frankie 16+8reb, J.Berzins 15+9reb, R.Macoha 11+8reb+3ast, S.Rolands 8+6reb+1ast, R.Berzins 6+1reb, U.Pinete 5+1reb+1ast

Keila KK - Ventspils 80-84

Not a big story in a game when 11th ranked Estonian Keila KK (4-17) was defeated at home by third ranked Latvian Ventspils (15-6) 84-80 on Saturday. Ventspils outrebounded Keila KK 43-31 including 31 on the defensive glass. Ventspils looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists comparing to just 7 passes made by Keila KK's players. The best player for the winners was American center Bryant Thomas (203-1999, college: C-N, agency: Olsta) who had a double-double by scoring 21 points and 12 rebounds. The other American import guard Aaron Johnson-Cash (198-1998, college: UT Arlington, agency: Olsta) chipped in 20 points and 8 rebounds (on 8-of-9 shooting from the field). At the other side the best for losing team was American guard Quion Burns (198-2002, college: Maine) who recorded a double-double by scoring 22 points and 14 rebounds and Ralf Sats (187-2003) added 18 points and 5 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) respectively. Four Ventspils and five Keila KK players scored in double figures. Ventspils have a solid four-game winning streak. Despite that victory Ventspils went down to fourth position due to points difference. Keila KK lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the twelfth place with 17 games lost. Ventspils will meet at home league's second-placed VEF Riga in the next round and it may be the game of the week. Keila KK will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Ventspils: T.Bryant 21+12reb+2ast, J.Aaron 20+8reb+1ast, A.Arturs 15+3reb+4ast, U.Amandas 10+3reb+2ast, B.Renars 9+4reb+8ast, R.Berze 5+4reb+3ast
Keila KK: Q.Burns 22+14reb, S.Ralf 18+5reb+2ast, I.Muhammad 16+4reb, P.Peemot 12+4reb+2ast, P.Jeremiah 10+2reb+2ast, L.Ron 2+1reb+1ast

Tartu - Liepaja 87-77

Lat-Est BL top team - Estonian Tartu (19-2) managed to deliver another win on Saturday. This time they beat tenth ranked Latvian Liepaja (4-16) 87-77. Tartu looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. The best player for the winners was Karl-Johan Lips (205-1996) who scored 12 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. American swingman Malcolm Bernard (198-1994, college: Xavier) chipped in 12 points, 8 assists and 4 steals. Five Tartu players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was Ilja Kurucs (206-2007) who recorded 14 points and 5 rebounds and American guard Xavier DuSell (196-2001, college: Nevada) added 15 points respectively. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Tartu have a solid four-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 19-2 record. Loser Liepaja dropped to the eleventh place with 16 games lost. Tartu will meet at home Rigas Z. (#3) in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Liepaja will play against Kalev/Cramo (#5) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Tartu: I.Markus 16+6reb+1ast, P.Martin 14+5reb+3ast, L.Karl-Johan 12+8reb+4ast, B.Malcolm 12+4reb+8ast, V.Robert 11+1reb+1ast, P.Dylan 10+6reb+1ast
Liepaja: X.DuSell 15+4reb+1ast, I.Kurucs 14+5reb+1ast, E.Egle 12+1reb+3ast, H.Petrovics 10+2reb+3ast, B.Henriks 10+1reb+1ast, E.Krumins 8+2reb+8ast

Viimsi - Ventspils 83-81

Very important is a road loss of third ranked Latvian Ventspils (15-6) against tenth ranked Estonian Viimsi (5-16) on Sunday night. Visiting Ventspils were edged by Viimsi in a tough game in Viimsi 81-83. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Ventspils. Viimsi made 16-of-21 charity shots (76.2 percent) during the game. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 21 assists. American forward Kevin Baker (205-1998, college: LC State, agency: Starting 5) notched 28 points and 9 rebounds to lead the effort and Kaspar Kuusmaa (185-2004) supported him with 11 points and 9 assists. Viimsi's coach used entire bench in such tough game. Even 26 points and 8 rebounds by American center Bryant Thomas (203-1999, college: C-N, agency: Olsta) did not help to save the game for Ventspils. Arturs Ausejs (192-1990) added 9 points and 5 assists. Viimsi maintains tenth position with 5-16 record. Ventspils at the other side dropped to the fourth place with six games lost. Viimsi will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Ventspils will play at home against the league's second-placed VEF Riga (#2) where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.
Top scorers:
Viimsi: B.Kevin 28+9reb+2ast, J.Rikberg 13+2reb+2ast, K.Kaspar 11+3reb+9ast, E.Urvik 9+3reb, O.Pere 6+1reb+5ast, K.Reinart 6+2reb
Ventspils: B.Thomas 26+8reb, B.Roberts 11+1ast, A.Ausejs 9+3reb+5ast, A.Nikolajs 8+1reb, R.Birkans 7+2reb+4ast, A.Johnson-Cash 6+4reb+3ast