Rigas Zelli opened their EuroCup Basketball campaign with a statement performance at home, defeating KK Cedevita Olimpija 89-79 in a game they controlled for long stretches and closed out with real composure. A 25-point third quarter broke open what had been a competitive contest, and the Latvian side never allowed the visitors from Ljubljana to fully recover in the final ten minutes.

Match Overview

The final scoreline reflects a game of two distinct halves. Rigas Zelli came out with energy and purpose, moving the ball crisply and attacking the rim early, while Cedevita Olimpija leaned on their half-court execution and inside presence to stay within touching distance. By the end of the first quarter, the hosts led 24-19, and despite a slightly better second period from the Slovenian side, the margin remained narrow at the interval.

It was after the break that the game turned decisively. Rigas Zelli rattled off a run that stretched their advantage into double digits, and from that point the visitors were always chasing the scoreboard rather than dictating the tempo.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

• First quarter: Rigas Zelli 24-19 — an aggressive opening built on quick ball movement and early perimeter success.
• Second quarter: Cedevita Olimpija 23-21 — the visitors settled in and found a rhythm in the paint.
• Third quarter: Rigas Zelli 25-17 — the decisive stretch that turned a tight game into a commanding lead.
• Fourth quarter: Cedevita Olimpija 20-19 — a late push that trimmed the margin but never truly threatened the result.

Key Moments

The turning point arrived midway through the third quarter. With the score still within five points, Rigas Zelli strung together back-to-back three-pointers, sandwiched around a fast-break dunk off a steal, forcing the visitors into a timeout. The momentum shift was immediate and lasting: Cedevita Olimpija's offense became more predictable, reliant on isolation plays and contested jumpers, while the hosts kept attacking in transition.

Early in the fourth, the visitors cut the deficit to nine and briefly looked capable of making it a one-possession game. Instead, a steady parade of free throws from the home side, combined with a timely offensive rebound and put-back, ended the rally before it gathered real momentum.

Tactical Story

Rigas Zelli's game plan was built around pace and perimeter spacing. Their guards pushed the ball hard off defensive rebounds, and their bigs set high screens to create open looks for shooters drifting to the wings. That approach generated a steady stream of open threes in the third quarter, exactly when the game needed to be decided.

Cedevita Olimpija, by contrast, tried to slow the tempo and exploit mismatches inside. It worked in spurts — they scored consistently in the paint and drew fouls close to the basket — but the strategy required precision the visitors could not sustain for 40 minutes. Turnovers in the second half handed Rigas Zelli easy points in transition, and those cheap buckets proved more damaging than any single shooting run.

Standout Players

• Kristaps Bērziņš (Rigas Zelli): A game-high 22 points with six assists, controlling the tempo and hitting several momentum-shifting shots from beyond the arc.
• Artis Ozols (Rigas Zelli): 17 points and nine rebounds, providing the physical presence that kept the offense functioning when the pace slowed.
• Emīls Kalniņš (Rigas Zelli): Quiet but valuable, anchoring the defense and altering several shots at the rim.
• Luka Petrović (Cedevita Olimpija): 18 points on efficient shooting, the most consistent offensive threat for the visitors.
• Marko Todorović (Cedevita Olimpija): A double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, battling hard inside against a compact defense.

What It Means

An opening-round home win of this quality is exactly what Rigas Zelli needed to establish credibility in a demanding EuroCup group. Winning by double digits against a club with Cedevita Olimpija's continental pedigree sends a clear message that the Latvian side intends to compete for a knockout-stage place rather than simply make up the numbers.

For Cedevita Olimpija, the defeat is a reminder of how unforgiving the EuroCup regular season can be. Their interior play offered encouragement, but the third-quarter collapse highlighted the need for more reliable perimeter creation when the game tightens. Both teams now turn their attention to the next round, with Rigas Zelli riding momentum and the Slovenians looking for an immediate response.

Final score: Rigas Zelli 89-79 KK Cedevita Olimpija