Eight teams. Twenty games. Three days of international basketball. Teams from Latvia, Poland, Italy, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria and Finland opened the EGBL U15 season in Liepaja, Latvia, with games played on 2-4 October 2026. Helmi Basket emerged unbeaten, but two close meetings with RBS Centrs kept the contest at the top alive until the final day.
Every team played five games to begin its 2026/27 campaign. Across the weekend, the opening stage tested depth, consistency and teamwork, and gave players the chance to measure themselves against opponents from six countries.
Stage 1 standings
| Pos | Team | GP | L5 | W | L | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Helmi Basket | 5 | 5 | 0 | 125 | 10 | |
| 2 |  | RBS Centrs | 5 | 3 | 2 | 145 | 8 | |
| 3 |  | BC FIP LAZIO | 5 | 3 | 2 | 33 | 8 | |
| 4 |  | QUAY MUKS Poznan | 5 | 3 | 2 | 18 | 8 | |
| 5 |  | Daugavpils SS | 5 | 3 | 2 | 75 | 8 | |
| 6 |  | BC Slavia | 5 | 2 | 3 | -61 | 7 | |
| 7 |  | Liepaja SSS | 5 | 1 | 4 | -49 | 6 | |
| 8 |  | RDF Eagles | 5 | 0 | 5 | -286 | 5 |
The story of the stage
Helmi Basket won all five games, but RBS Centrs twice pushed the Finnish side to the smallest margins of the stage. Friday’s meeting ended 59-57 in Helmi‘s favour. Watch on EYBL.TV On Sunday, Helmi prevailed again, this time 68-65, to complete their perfect weekend. Watch on EYBL.TV Only five points separated the teams across the two games, giving the unbeaten record a very different feel from a comfortable procession.
The next closest result came on Saturday, when QUAY MUKS Poznan beat BC FIP LAZIO 52-48. Watch on EYBL.TV Lazio responded in Sunday’s return meeting with a 56-34 victory. Watch on EYBL.TV Both teams finished 3-2, alongside RBS Centrs and Daugavpils SS, leaving a crowded group behind Helmi.
Daugavpils built their own turnaround over the three days. After losing their first two games, they won their last three and signed off with a 59-41 success against Slavia Trnava. Watch on EYBL.TV That winning finish changed an 0-2 start into a positive stage record.
For hosts Liepaja SSS, the final day brought a first victory: 70-33 against RDF. Watch on EYBL.TV Helmi‘s unbeaten run led the headlines, but the close contests, return meetings and strong finishes gave teams across the table something to take into Stage 2.
MVP: Layla King
Layla King anchored Helmi Basket‘s unbeaten weekend with 14.6 points, 12.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.0 blocks per game. Her work on the boards and around the basket gave the Finnish side a reliable foundation across all five games.
MVP game by game
| Date | Opponent | Mins | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Oct | BC Slavia | 18:43 | 10 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 Oct | RBS Centrs | 24:08 | 15 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
| 3 Oct | RDF Eagles | 14:49 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 3 Oct | BC FIP LAZIO | 22:37 | 18 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 4 Oct | RBS Centrs | 23:30 | 20 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
All-Star Five
- Ieva Markune: 13.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game – RBS Centrs.
- Gabriella Ripa: 11.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game – Daugavpils SS.
- Ada Klinkmann: 10.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game – Helmi Basket.
- Zuzanna Bartkowiak: 9.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game – QUAY MUKS Poznan.
- Arianna Conte: 8.8 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game – BC FIP LAZIO.
1. Helmi Basket – Unbeaten, with two close calls
Helmi Basket completed a perfect stage with a 68-65 victory over RBS Centrs. Watch on EYBL.TV The Finnish side won all five games, including two hard-fought meetings with Centrs. Their overall +125 points difference reflected stronger margins elsewhere, with Layla King leading the way to the MVP award.
Top performers:
- Layla King: 14.6 points, 12.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.
- Julia Apilo: 13.0 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.
- Ada Klinkmann: 10.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.
2. RBS Centrs – Twice within touching distance
RBS Centrs closed with a 65-68 defeat against unbeaten Helmi Basket. Watch on EYBL.TV They finished 3-2, with both losses coming against the stage winners. Their +145 points difference was the largest of the weekend, and Ieva Markune earned All-Star Five recognition.
Top performers:
- Amelia Volkopa: 14.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.
- Ieva Markune: 13.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.
- Tina Kristiana Karle: 11.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.
3. BC FIP LAZIO – Lazio finish with a statement
BC FIP LAZIO reversed a narrow earlier defeat to QUAY MUKS Poznan by winning their final-day meeting 56-34. Watch on EYBL.TV The Italian team finished 3-2 and third in the official standings. Michelle Canterini and Elena De Astis shared the scoring lead, while Arianna Conte added an All-Star Five selection.
Top performers:
- Michelle Canterini: 13.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game.
- Elena De Astis: 13.0 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.
- Arianna Conte: 8.8 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game.
4. QUAY MUKS Poznan – Three wins for the Polish side
QUAY MUKS Poznan beat Lazio 52-48 on Saturday. Watch on EYBL.TV Lazio took the return game on Sunday, leaving the Polish side 3-2. Their scoring was spread across several players, with Zuzanna Bartkowiak earning All-Star recognition and Gabriela Bugiera averaging 2.0 blocks.
Top performers:
- Zuzanna Bartkowiak: 9.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.
- Zofia Krawczyk: 9.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.
- Helena Nielacna: 8.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game.
5. Daugavpils SS – A strong response after day one
Daugavpils SS recovered from two opening-day defeats to win their final three games. Watch on EYBL.TV They finished with a 59-41 victory over BC Slavia and a 3-2 record. Gabriella Ripa earned an All-Star Five place, with Paula Ostrovska and Polina Vilmane also contributing consistently.
Top performers:
- Gabriella Ripa: 11.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game.
- Paula Ostrovska: 9.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.
- Polina Vilmane: 8.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.
6. BC Slavia – Two victories and an active defence
BC Slavia ended with a 41-59 defeat to Daugavpils. Watch on EYBL.TV Wins over RDF Eagles and Liepaja SSS gave the Bulgarian side a 2-3 record. Andjela Tosheva made a particularly strong impact defensively with 31 steals across five games, alongside scoring contributions from Raya Kostova and Yoana Kirilova.
Top performers:
- Andjela Tosheva: 11.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.
- Raya Kostova: 11.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.
- Yoana Kirilova: 10.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.
7. Liepaja SSS – The hosts finish on a high
Liepaja SSS gave their home supporters a winning finish by beating RDF Eagles 70-33. Watch on EYBL.TV The result secured their first victory after four defeats. Sabine Strautina and Paula Lukasevica led the scoring, while the stage offered the hosts five international tests in familiar surroundings.
Top performers:
- Sabine Strautina: 12.0 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.0 assists per game.
- Paula Lukasevica: 11.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.
- Rezija Kenina: 8.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game.
8. RDF Eagles – Five games of international experience
RDF Eagles completed a difficult opening stage 0-5, ending with a 33-70 defeat against Liepaja SSS. Watch on EYBL.TV Vanessa Mwangi led their scoring, while Ruby Breame and Jada Jarvis worked on the boards. The British side now has a clear starting point for its preparations before Stage 2.
Top performers:
- Vanessa Mwangi: 9.6 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.
- Jada Jarvis: 6.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.
- Rosie Mower: 5.5 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.
Thank you, Liepaja
Thank you to Liepaja for welcoming the teams, coaches and supporters. We appreciate the work of Liepaja SSS, the local organisers and the Olympic Centre staff, together with the referees, table officials and volunteers who helped deliver the stage.
Our thanks also go to MyFitness, Dove, Cannelle Bakery and Wellteen for supporting girls’ basketball. Thank you to the families and supporters who followed the action in the arena and online.
Next stop: Valka
U15 Stage 2 takes place in Valka, Latvia, on 26-29 November 2026. The first results are in, and the teams now have their targets for the next meeting.