The tournament, which resumes after a 26-year break, will feature 23 teams from four Latvian leagues. Taking into account the sporting and geographical aspects, the teams will be divided into several baskets before the draw and will be involved in the fight for the cup at different stages.
The lottery and the whole event was hosted by LTV journalist Reinis Ošenieks and TV diva Jana Duļevska, who pulled the ball from the bowl, determining who would have to deal with in the respective phase of the competition.
Already in the first round of the lottery, there was an intrigue about which of the Eastern Zone teams will receive the Maxibasketball 40+ group champions “Garkalne Runči” with Kaspars Kambals and other Latvian basketball personalities. The lottery decided that Rugāji SC basketball players will meet with “Garkalne Runs” in the first round, but in the second round the winner of this pair will fight with “Gulbene bucks”. “Valmiera Glass” / “Vidzeme University College” was drawn from LBL teams in the third round in this branch.
There will be “Krāslava” / Sports school – “Cēsis” / Cēsis Sports School, “Liepāja” / LSSS – Iecavas “Dartija” and BJBS “Rīga” – “Tukums” / TSS.
The first potentially fourth-round duels between LBL teams have already been drawn in the draw, if they beat their opponents from the lower leagues in the third round. In the fourth round, a meeting of “Valmiera Glass” / “Vidzeme University College” with “Ogri” is possible, as well as a Kurzeme derby between the teams of “Ventspils” and “Liepāja”.
If LU successfully overcomes the third round, one of the strongest teams of the second division of LBL “Jēkabpils” could face in the fourth.
The Latvian champion team and FIBA Champions League participant “VEF Rīga” will participate in the fight for the Latvian Cup from the semi-finals. The people of Riga were drawn into the branch, where the favorites for reaching the semi-finals are the teams of the University of Latvia and “Jēkabpils”.
The last time the Latvian Cup was won was in 1994, when the SWH / “Brocēni” team trained by Armands Krauliņš triumphed. In Wednesday’s draw, Krauliņš expressed satisfaction that he has returned to Latvia for the cup competition.
“This is an important event in Latvian basketball. The cup must be played and won, they are additional games for both basketball players and spectators,” Krauliņš noted.
The cup will be played according to the elimination tournament system, with the teams competing in the two-game series up to and including the semi-finals in each round. The winners of the Cup are expected to be determined in the final game on February 13. The place of the final game will be selected by competition.
The last time the Latvian Cup in basketball was won was in 1994, when SWH / “Brocēni” won the trophy, playing “Bonus” in the sum of two games.
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