KML Season So Far
Estonian basketball league (Paf KML) has reached to semi-finals. The tournament has been thrilling and entertaining so far. Who are playing and how did they reach to semi-finals?
The season had a bit different setup this year. The current champions of Estonia, BC Kalev Cramo, pointed out that there is no need for too many regular round games. Estonian Basketball Association therefore decided to only play one round of a regular season. The deeper story behind that is the fact that all the clubs played in Estonian-Latvian league and therefore there wouldn’t be a reason to play again against each other.
Spot to the quarter-finals got Pärnu, Rapla, Kalev, TalTech, Tartu and Viimsi. Kalev Cramo was sent straight to the semi-finals because they won the regular season.
Pärnu Sadam vs AVIS/Utilitas Rapla
Quarter finals were thrilling as the teams were on a very equal level. Pärnu Sadam secured entry to the semi-finals when they defeated Rapla with 86:76 and won the series 3:1. Pärnu took the initiative right at the beginning of the match and won the opening quarter at 20:11. The halftime break was already 41:29. In many cases, Rapla was close to a breakthrough, but Pärnu always had the answer, and so the Rapla had to wave a goodbye for the home crowd for this season.
Alterique Gilbert scored 20 points as the best. Robert Valge and Andris Misters both added 16 eyes. Rapla’s top scorer was Darryl Tucker with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Martin Paasoja added 14 points and Jaron Martin added 13 points. In the semi-final series, Pärnu will face BC Kalev /Cramo.
The University of Tartu defeated Maks & Moorits 69:68 KK Viimsi / Sportland and reached the semi-finals, where they have to face the TalTech / Optibet.
KK Viimsi/Sportland vs Tartu Ülikool Maks&Moorits
Like in the first three games, the excitement continued until the last seconds. Rain Veideman’s long distance shot before the end of normal time brought Viimsi two points away (65:63) and a little less than three seconds before the end, Rait-Riivo Laane brought 68:68 draw numbers to the scoreboard. However, Ronald Zakis rushed too hard to prevent Tartu from entering the game, crossed the end line twice and the judges had to make a technical error. Braxton Huggins hit a free throw and secured access to Tartu for the semi-finals. The whole quarter-final series won with Tartu games 3: 1.
Huggins scored 26 which was best from the winners. Emmanuel Wembi added 13 points and 10 rebounds. The most effective from Viimsi was Karl-Johan Lips with 25 points. Zakis and Tyler Roberson brought 14 eyes equally.
TalTech vs Tallinna Kalev
In the semi-final series, the opponent of the University of Tartu is TalTech / Optibet, who beat Tallinna Kalev 3: 1 in the quarter-finals. TalTech / Optibet defeated Tallinna Kalev 83:75 in the fourth game of the series.
The game was characterized by rough play and many physical challenges on the wet field, but TalTech showed great passion and had a good game. In the last minutes of the game, Kalev reached a point away for several times, but Technical University could not be defeated.
On the winning side, Brandon Childress once again made a powerful performance, scoring 33 points and gave six assists. Oliver Metsalu added 12 points and eight rebounds. Ran Andre Pehka scored 11 points. Joona Järveläinen was the most effective from Kalev with 20 points. Michael Buchanan added 19 points and eight rebounds, Ronald Mcghee had 13 points, nine rebounds and gave six assists.
The beginning of semi-finals
Kalev Cramo showed in the Estonian-Latvian league that their form this season isn’t the best. Still, we all know they have the most Estonian national team players and their foreign players have a high quality. Yet again, let’s keep in mind that Pärnu did beat Kalev Cramo in Estonian-Latvian semi-finals. TalTech showed a solid game against Tallinna Kalev and Tartu was very eager to win against Viimsi.
How will the series go? Hopefully games are entertaining and full of surprises. Don’t forget that we have a special Estonian league semi-finals pack release today at 14:00 in order for you to enjoy the local basketball even more… And to win prizes!
More information: www.cryplect.com/
