Balkan have punched their ticket to the Bulgarian National Basketball League semifinals with a tidy 103-83 win over Minyor 2015 in Pernik, wrapping up the quarterfinal series 2-0.

The visitors took control midway through the opening quarter and never looked back, building leads of up to 22 points in the third period at the Boris Gyuderov Hall.

Meanwhile, Spartak Pleven kept their playoff hopes alive with an 86-74 home victory over Cherno More Ticha, squaring that series at 1-1 and forcing a decisive third match on 4 May 2026 at Arena Shumen.

How the Bulgarian Playoffs Work

The Bulgarian NBL runs compact playoff rounds. Quarterfinals and semifinals are best-of-three series: win two games and you advance. No seven-game marathons here, which keeps the postseason tight and punchy, similar to smaller European domestic competitions.

Balkan's 2-0 sweep means they are through to the semifinals, where they will meet the winner of the Spartak Pleven vs Cherno More Ticha decider.

Balkan's Quarterfinal Win

Minyor 2015 started brightly but Balkan had drawn level by the end of the first quarter at 20-18. By halftime the gap had stretched to five points at 46-41, and a dominant third quarter (34-22) left the hosts trailing 80-63 heading into the final ten minutes.

Minyor could not mount a comeback in the fourth quarter, and Balkan cruised home.

Tadž Green top-scored for Balkan with 18 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Travis McConnico chipped in with 15 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, while Dimitar Dimitrov added 14 points and 9 rebounds.

For the Pernik side, Igor Kesar finished with 18 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists. Lazar Stankovich and Jordan Tali each scored 12 points.

Spartak Pleven Keep Series Alive

In the other quarterfinal tie, Spartak Pleven beat Cherno More Ticha 86-74 at the Balkanstroy Hall in Pleven to square the series at 1-1.

The home side led 36-28 midway through the second quarter, only to watch the visitors reel off 13 unanswered points to flip the score to 39-36. The teams went into the break level at 40-40.

Spartak Pleven regained the initiative after halftime, opening up a nine-point cushion at 57-48 in the third quarter and holding a 65-58 lead going into the final period. They saw it through from there without too much drama.

Pavlin Ivanov led the scoring with 21 points for Spartak Pleven, while Noel Brown posted a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Lamon West top-scored for Cherno More Ticha with 19 points and 7 rebounds, and Georgi Boyanov recorded a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds.

What Happens Next

The winner-takes-all third game between Spartak Pleven and Cherno More Ticha is scheduled for 4 May 2026 at Arena Shumen in Shumen. Whoever comes through will meet Balkan in the semifinals.

The other two quarterfinal series are still in progress. Rilski Sportist lead Beroe 1-0, while Lokomotiv Plovdiv hold a 1-0 advantage over Botev 2012 Vratsa. Second games in those series are due on 2 May.

Bulgarian NBL Context

The Bulgarian National Basketball League is the top tier of men's basketball in the country. Clubs occasionally compete in European tournaments such as the FIBA Europe Cup and Basketball Champions League qualifying rounds, though none currently hold permanent spots in major continental competitions.

For British basketball followers tracking European leagues, the NBL playoff structure will feel familiar: knockout rounds, home-and-away ties, and a decisive third game if needed. The level is competitive domestically, though Bulgarian clubs rarely make deep runs in European competition.

Player backgrounds and potential connections to British or European leagues were not detailed in the source material.