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Season 4, First Round of Playoffs:
Sunday, March 22nd, 2026
BC Eos vs. Wagner College 103-88
(home team name in bold letters)
(138674192)

***
As mentioned earlier, First Round on Season 4 Playoffs has been played, and no surprises in terms of away teams winning were offered to us. Here are few words on my match vs. EOS, but please also add your thoughts/writings on your own/on all First Round matches, as I'd like to read them and I believe so would many others.
***

Match report EOS-WAG:
An expected home win for strong EOS team - expected due to meeting them just a while a go on a neutral court, and not being able to challenge them in a real way for a win. This time I (WAG) was able to restrict EOS to "only" 26 points in first quarter (instead of 45 in previous meeting), and cause their Lauri Rannala ($49K) 4 fouls in less than 10 played minutes.

Unsurprisingly though, as you can't give/change coach advice in a middle of the game, I wasn´t able to cause him 2 additional fouls in 38+ remaining minutes. To be fair though, his young 19yo. replacement on C position, Indrek Eliste ($11K) was able to play a fine game with 14.5 rating (while Rannala had rating of 12.5).
Also, my Tommi Linkova wasn't able to continue his impressive start (15 points after first quarter, 5/8 FG), but instead finished with "only" 31 points at the end.
J. Kunttunen on my side had a terrible game; 3/16 FG shooting, 4 rebounds as a PF and rating of only 11,0.
Another usual strong performer in my team, V. Kaleva, didn't had a game to remember either; 3/13 FG, 4 turnovers and 9,0 rating.
BC Eos's E. Karu on the other hand, playing on SG position like previously mentioned V. Kaleva, played a strong game as expected; 32 points with 13/20 FG and 9 assists.

As for team stats in this match, I fell short in defense (allowing EOS 53,3% FG success rate), and in offense (scoring only at 32,5%) - what else do you need to lose a basketball match? Usually not much. (An away court? - yes, please;)
I had 12 more offensive (and 8 total) rebounds compared to EOS, and finished strong from free throw line (28/31), but that wasn't nearly enough to put up a real challenge against EOS.

Nevertheless, it's good to remember that often times it's also your opponent that makes you look either good or bad, and in order to give deserved credit to LennuK. and to make a disappointing losses effect milder for me, I'd be inclined to say LennuK. did a great job in this match to make my team look not so good.

So good luck going forward in Playoffs LennuK., and congratulations for posting up a Playoff win!
It is a Southern European freight train (some know this team as VPO, yes?) that either of us would've met on Second Round, but I wish you guys would be able to have an even and exciting match nevertheless!
(On the other hand, this current Playoff-system makes it possible that we could've avoided meeting VPO on Second Round, if any away team ranked worse than us in ORSR rankings would've won their opponent in the First Round of Playoffs, as then we wouldn't have been the worst ranked team remaining. Having said that, nobody tries to imply that RAJ would've been easy team to beat either).

Last edited by Wagner at 3/22/2026 10:10:10 AM

Some words on other First Round Playoff matches on Season 4:

ED vs. MAD 96-75:
4074 spectators had arrived at Demars arena (capacity of 21550) to see home team taking an expected win on this one. However, the game wasn't decided before the fourth quarter, into which ED entered in "only" 9 points lead.
In this match outside offense wasn't the theme of the game, as both teams shot at only 20% and 21% behind the three point arc.
ED was able to post an impressive 25/3 AST/TO-ratio, while MAD had still adequate 17 assisted FG's, but 13 turnovers did serious harm to their possibilities to get an away win as an underdog.


BCR-WMO 113-105:
In a closest fight on First Round, for the joy of BCR fans the first HGL Playoff win ever was being recorded for BCR in front of 2136 spectators in their 6th Yard Arena. The difference though was already 14 before fourth quarter, but WMO did end up closing the gap to 8 when the buzzer signaled after 48 minutes of play.
BCR had a clear advantage in rebounds (12 advantage in offensive, and 15 in total rebounds). That alone was a factor in this match in where many other team stats were close enough of each other to predict a close call. Both teams, BCR and WMO, for example had an impressive assist to turnover ratios, 26/4 and 25/6 respectively.
2 fouled out players might have played some part, but on the other hand when both teams had one fouled out (BCR after 33 and WMO after 38 minutes of playtime/player), it probably wasn't a sole decisive factor.


VIV-VDT 103-88:
Another game on First Round ending in exact same score as my match against EOS, a match favorite VIV didn't yet have a comfortable lead after 3 quarters of play, their lead being only 4. Then VIV changed a bigger gear in, and took control of the game, winning 4th quarter 30-19 and game by 15. Interestingly both teams were playing Princeton offense in this game, making it total of 4 of 8 teams choosing this tactics on First Round of Playoffs - this is quite possibly a Playoff record in HGL (amount of teams using same offensive tactics during one Playoff-Round), but I have no collected record on it to prove this so I could also be seriously mistaken as well - does anyone else have a hunch on this?
VIV was a bit stronger teams in some categories (in BB match ratings), such as in outside defense (level 12 vs. VDT's level 9), in rebounds (level 6 vs. 4) and in offensive flow (level 9 vs. 7), and VIV's assists to turnovers-ratio of 27/5 reflects into this offensive flow rating of 9 (compared to VDT's still perfectly acceptable values of 19/8 and level 7).

Last edited by Wagner at 3/22/2026 10:47:14 AM

HGL 1. PO round, season 4:

Best collective performance of the evening

Point: 113 : BC Rajaleidjad
Defense: 75 : Elan Demars
Tot. Rebound: 55 : Madrid Chotis
Off. Rebound: 19 : BC Rajaleidjad
Assist: 27 : Vilniaus „Vilkai“
Steal: 8 : Elan Demars
Block: 7 : Vindicta, Madrid Chotis, Elan Demars & WiMaOlCa

Personal best performances of the evening

Point: 32 : E. Karu (BC Eos)
Tot. Rebound: 18 : M. Veetõusme (BC Rajaleidjad)
Off. Rebound: 7 : M. Veetõusme & O. Eerik (BC Rajaleidjad)
Assist: 13 : M. Radomskis (Vilniaus „Vilkai“) (new PO record )
Steal: 2 : P. Flament (Vindicta), R. Martin & D. Corroyer (Elan Demars), V. Molina & Y. Lagneau (WiMaOlCa), O. Saar (BC Rajaleidjad)
Block: 5 : M. Bagunyà (Madrid Chotis)

The shooter: V. Molina (WiMaOlCa): 4 Three points scored

The best performer: A. Maksimavicius (Vilniaus „Vilkai“): Rating: 18,0

Triple-Double: -

Edit: M. Radomskis of Vilniaus „Vilkai“ set a new individual PO record with 13 assists in a game.

Last edited by GM-LennuK at 3/23/2026 4:05:43 AM

Unfortunately, I was away and wasn't able to follow the game live, so I can't say much more about the game than the stats in the box score. So thank you, Wagner, for summarizing our game and sharing your thoughts!

Good thing, Rannala was able to keep the composure and not collect further 2 fouls after the first 4 ones. I was pleased to see that I closed the gap to your rebounding dominance from our RS game a little, while you still having 12 more offensive rebounds definitely shows my susceptibility in that regard. Also, I was delighted to see some improved shooting from the field, compared to our last game, even though that the rate of three pointers made sunk a little. My defense really seemed to force you do some low quality shots, as your surprising 32.5% field goal success rate was one of the lowest for you throughout the season (Only KKS and VPO were able to keep you lower). So at least looking at the stats afterwards, it really seems that the field goal success rate shifted the edge in this game towards my side (additionally to the HCA), while your guys still put up a good fight.

I think it is a great challenge to face off against any of the top-4 teams in the HGL, who have showed consistency throughout the season. Now playing against the reigning champion and a team who has not lost a HGL match just yet (as far as I know), seems to be an impossible challenge and probably is. But let's see what the BB-gods have in store for us.

Thanks for that interesting PO game and I'm looking forward to our rematch during HGL season 5!

Last edited by GM-LennuK at 3/23/2026 7:20:38 AM

All Second Round Playoff matches have now been confirmed to be organized properly.

@all who win tomorrow's HGL Playoff match, important:
Likely we'll stick with the same time on rest of Season 4 Playoff matches (semifinals and final/bronze match), and don't change time in a middle of Playoffs (even though HGL rules might seem to suggest that, as Daylight Savings Time a.k.a. DST is started being observed in a middle of Playoffs).

What I meant by that is that DST change usually changes all times that are visible on your BB schedule page.

Example:
For instance for me it shows that all HGL matches this season have been played at 13.30, a.k.a. 01.30PM.

Now when DST changes in Europe next night (in about 12 hours), it should start to show that all matches have been played at 14.30, or 02.30PM.



******EDIT 2nd of April:*****
It does indeed now shows in my BB schedule that all my HGL matches this season have been played at 14.30 (instead on 13.30/01.30PM, like it was showing before DST change) due to Daylight Savings Time change in Europe on March 29th.

So for the rest of the Season 4 Playoffs you all will send challenges to teams at the same time, that is now showing in your BB schedule to be the match time for HGL matches this season.

In other words, it's one hour later than you have usually sent your challenges so far (for me it would be 14.30 / 02.30PM DST if I'd still be playing in Playoffs).

For instance, this RAJ-KKS match is organized one hour too late: (138696960). Both of these teams should now see this match being organized one hour later than other their HGL matches this Season.

This can be discussed later which protocol we should follow (this one in use now, keeping match time "technically" the same so that all times show up in calendar being played at the same time, or whether we should in future go with the basic HGL rule on match times so that match times could be changed in a middle of Playoffs).

But for now at least, let's go with the option that you all challenge at the same times that all your HGL matches seem to have been played on this Season, and it should be correct.
******END OF AN EDIT******



If this is really the case (that all match times will be shown an hour later in BB schedule after DST change this forthcoming night), then we'd organize rest of the Playoff matches at that time, not 13.30, so that all HGL matches on Season 4 will be played at similar times all Season long (same time, your local time, that you see when you click yourself to your team schedule-page - regular schedule page, not HGL schedule page of course as match times aren't even visible there).

So I could verify times for each matchup on Round Three (Semifinal Round) if managers find this confusing and/or you can ask for more instructions if you feel like it.

But like I said, with my logic at least (please do correct me ASAP if there's mistake in my thinking), it shouldn't be needed as it should be conclusive enough advice to organize rest of the Playoff matches at the same time that you'll see your other HGL matches having been played at this Season (when you look at your calendar after DST change has taken place in Europe, which means practically when you look at your schedule starting this Sunday morning).

Last edited by Wagner at 4/2/2026 4:34:00 AM

Season 4 Playoffs Second Round has been done and dusted, and in all 4 occassions home teams (higher ranked teams) were the winners on this Sunday afternoon.

Therefore, PO Round 3 (a.k.a. Semifinals) will be played as follows, here as a reminder (but official/most updated list will always be found from official Playoff post, here: (329502.7)).

PO Round 3 (semifinals; 4 teams play): Sunday, April 5th, 2026
Rank #1 VPO vs. #4 LMS (138698156)
Rank #2 RAJ vs. #3 KKS (138698190)
***EDIT April 3rd: both semifinal match links are now confirmed to be correct in terms of match time.***


Some notes on one PO Second Round game, and on PO Third (Semifinal) Round:
On Second Round of Playoffs, like mentioned, home teams were a mountain to climb, with 3 out of 4 matches ending up with considerable point differential.

VIV on the other hand was a refreshing exception to this, being able to challenge very strong LMS side on an away court in an impressive fashion, but to kecal's (and VIV's fans) big disappointment cliff of the peak collapsed from underneath their feet at the last moment, just before peak (of 48 minutes of play) were reached.

In practice this translates into 6 points loss for VIV, while they led LMS by as many as 13 points (!) after 3 quarters on an away court.

LMS's sheer domination on boards (55 to 35 to LMS; offensive rebounds 16 to 3!) were part of the story, why VIV's respectable battle against one of the current day "salary giants" (see here: (329501.52)), LMS, wasn't successful in terms of winning. However, as mentioned winning is only part of the story and it's good to remember to take hats off for giving a great challenge like this (even though if one would end up losing the match).

On Third Round (semifinal Round) LMS needs to put gas pedal to the metal immediately (and not at the later in the game) to overcome this infamous Italian freight train (VPO), but everything is certainly possible!
Meeting of RAJ and KKS, on the other hand, is expected to be more even to begin with, and should be very high quality match (as well) indeed!


Last edited by Wagner at 4/3/2026 6:40:37 AM

HGL 2. PO round, season 4:

Best collective performance of the evening

Point: 118 : KK Stihija
Defense: 79 : Virtus Portici
Tot. Rebound: 55 : Virtus Portici & Lielupes Melnās Sirdis
Off. Rebound: 21 : BC Rajaleidjad
Assist: 31 : Lielupes Melnās Sirdis
Steal: 10 : Elan Demars
Block: 14 : KK Stihija

Personal best performances of the evening

Point: 33 : A. Kotkovskis (Vilniaus „Vilkai“)
Tot. Rebound: 20 : T. Dambekalns (Lielupes Melnās Sirdis)
Off. Rebound: 10 : M. Veetõusme
Assist: 11 : E. Lipsks (Lielupes Melnās Sirdis)
Steal: 5 : I. Nzale (Elan Demars) New PO record!
Block: 8 : D. Bukva (KK Stihija) New PO record!

The shooter: M. Vanda (BC Eos), Z. Kopec (Rajdersi) & R. Cveklić (KK Stihija): 3 Three points scored

The best performer: M. Kavazić (KK Stihija): Rating: 18,5

Triple-Double: -

PO Round 2:
Sunday, March 29th, 2026
BC Eos | 79 - 102 | Virtus Portici
(138680541)

Once again, I wasn't able to follow the match live, but according to the stats it went pretty much the way it was expected. We were crushed by the championship holders VPO, who confidently marched into the semi finals. I figured that everything had to go my way to even have a somewhat close game, which is why I tried to predict their tactics, which totally backfired. Strong win, SventraCanestri and good luck in the semis!

I can only be pleased regarding the goals I set for myself at the beginning of the season. My minimum goal was to have a personal record of games won during regular season, which was previously 3. Fair to say that with 9 wins this season, this goal was comfortably achieved. A more ambitious goal set by me was to reach the second round of PO. Now after being defeated in the second round by the very strong VPO side, I can only be glad that I actually achieved this goal, which for a long time during the RS seemed to be quite difficult. Four crucial wins towards the end of RS, against MAD, HB, LGM and WAG saw me bag important points against my direct rivals for the top-8 finish, securing me a HCA for the first PO round.

It has been a good season and I can't wait for the next one to begin. To all semifinalists, good luck and I hope for some interesting games!

HGL Offensive and Defensive (Opponent) Team Stats-posts for Regular Season 4 have now been published, sorry for delay (as I planned to release them already earlier).

As you probably know/guessed from experience, these are the end of Season/final stats so to speak, as Playoff matches won't ever be count in HGL Team Stats.

Some interesting changes have taken place since last publication (after RS Round 9), and in many cases some numbers have been eye opening for me (and helped me to know my fellow HGL-managers' teams strengths and weaknesses more thoroughly - not to mention my own weaknesses).

HGL Offensive and Defensive (Opponent) Team Stats-posts in question can be found from here, check out how your team fares in each of 45 stats categories:

Post 1/3: (329502.16)
Post 2/3: (329502.17)
Post 3/3: (329502.18)

Very interesting, thanks :)

Very interesting, thanks :)

They are indeed very interesting in my opinion as well, I'm glad you like them too!

And as we all can see, there's a lot for you to be happy about when you look at those certain stats categories... :)

For instance being number 1 in HGL in turnovers (least turnovers, that is!), and having a +3,4TO positive differential in that category is something to be happy about!

Also, your team is #2 in steals in whole HGL, and have "given" opponent to steal balls from you second least (making you again #2 in whole HGL in that "opponent steals" category as well)!

In assists to turnovers-category you're tied 3rd in whole HGL, posting an impressive 3,23 average.

Also on Defensive (opponent) FG-% your team is tied 4th, posting an impressive sub-40% number on Season 4, at 39,5% (and having 3,5% advantage over your opponent as you've been scoring at 43% on Season 4).

Theoretically I wouldn't be finished yet, but let's let others do rest of the work for now if they want to find your strengths... :D But all in all, as mentioned, very strong season from you again, well done demars!

Last edited by Wagner at 4/4/2026 1:59:36 PM