The visiting Latvian basketball players beat the Belgian national team with a score of 85:83 (16:20, 20:21, 22:25, 27:17), just like in the home game held on Friday, securing victory at the end.
Team captain Rihards Lomažs was the top scorer in the Latvian national team with 19 points, seven assists and four rebounds, who made two long shots in the penultimate minute of regular time and regained the lead for the guests. Krister Zorik had 17 points and five assists, Mārci Šteinberg – 15 points, and Artūrs Strautiņš – 14 points and nine rebounds.
For the Belgians, Emanuel Lecomte scored 20 points and Retin Obasoan, who gave six assists, while Hans Vanwein had 13 points and seven rebounds.
Before that, in this subgroup, Spain defeated Slovakia 84:71 (22:18, 25:14, 24:25, 13:14) and secured a place in the final tournament.
In subgroup C, after four games, Latvia has four wins, Spain and Belgium – two each, while Slovakia has experienced four losses.
The Latvian national team started the game with Artūras Strautiņas, Rihardas Lomaža, Mārci Šteinberga, Kārli Šiliņa and Kristera Zorik in the starting five. The match was successful for the visitors, especially for Šiliņš, who made two shots, but the Latvians did not protect the quickly gained advantage and the Belgians took the lead in the second half of the quarter (12:11). After the first ten minutes, Latvia was ahead with 16:20.
The Belgians also started the second half productively and in the first minutes gained an advantage of 11 points (47:36), later gaining their biggest lead in the game – 13 points. By the beginning of the last ten minutes of regular time, the Latvian basketball players almost cut the opponent’s advantage by half (58:66).
In the penultimate minute of regular time, Lomaž made two long shots, and Latvia was already in the lead (82:81). Lomaj scored two free throws in the last minute, consolidating the lead, which the Belgians could erase with only one long shot, but five seconds before the final whistle, Obasoan made a two-point shot. In the following attack of the Latvian national team, the rules were violated against Strautiņas, who threw one of the two “penalties”.
Friday’s match, in which the Latvians beat the Belgians at home with 75:72, was watched by head coach Luka Banki from the stands, while his assistant Jānis Gailītis led the team in the fight. On Monday, the management of the team was entrusted to Artūrs Visockis-Rubenis.
The Latvian team has already secured the right to play in the final tournament, which will take place in Riga
The Latvian national team ranks ninth in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) ranking, while the Belgian national team ranks 39th.
The EC qualification tournament for the Latvian team will end in February 2025 with a match in Riga against the Spanish national team and an away match in Slovakia.
The list of candidates for the Latvian national team for matches with the Belgian national team:
Krišs Helmanis, Dāvids Vīksne, Roberts Bērziņš, Toms Skuja, Juris Vītols (all – “Rīgas Zeļļi”), Ojārs Siliņš (Warsaw “Legia”, Poland), Artūrs Strautiņš (Tortona “Derthona”, Italy), Artis Ate (“Valmiera Glass” University”), Klaav Chavar (Baku “Sabah”, Azerbaijan), Rihards Lomaž (Denizli “Yukatel Merkezefendi”, Turkey), Marcis Šteinberg (Manrezas “Baxi”, Spain), Kristaps Ćilps, Rodijs Macoha (both – “Liepāja”), Kārlis Šiliņš (“Pistoia”, Italy), Kristers Zorik (“Le Portel”, France) .
The list of Belgian national team candidates for matches with Latvia:
Joe Onyeka Agu (“Brussels Basketball”, Belgium), Roel Bukumi (Leuven “Bears”, Belgium), Niels de Ridder, Sean Pudet (both – Kortrijk “Spurs”, Belgium), Theis de Ridder (Bilbao, Spain) , Pierre-Antoine Gillet, Noah Meusen, Jope Mennes, Mateo Verstrete (all – Ostend “Filou”, Belgium), Oscar Gillet, Joe van Bougainville (both – Limburg United, Belgium), Mamadou Gis (CSP Limoges, France), Arcange Izo Bolavy (Charleroi “Spirou”, Belgium), Emmanuel Lecomte (Lubins “Start”, Poland), Siebe Ledegen, Niels van den Einde (both – Aalst “Okapi”, Belgium), Nathan Misja-Dio (Blois “Basket 41”, France), Reten Obasohan (Baxi of Manreza, Spain), Loic Schwartz (Saint-Quentin, France), Andy van Vleet (Trefl of Sopot, Bulgaria), Hans Vanwijn (Hapoel Gilboa Galil, Israel).
What specific strategies has the Latvian basketball team implemented to achieve recent successes?
Interview between Time.news Editor and Basketball Expert
Time.news Editor (TNE): Good morning, everyone! Today, we have the privilege of speaking with basketball expert Dr. Linda Ozoliņa, who specializes in sports performance analysis. Linda, thank you for joining us!
Dr. Linda Ozoliņa (LO): Good morning! Thank you for having me. I’m excited to talk about the burgeoning success of the Latvian basketball team.
TNE: The Latvian national team has just achieved an impressive victory over Belgium, securing a narrow win of 85:83 in their most recent match. What do you think were the key factors that led to this victory?
LO: Absolutely, it was an exhilarating game! One of the main factors was the leadership of Captain Rihards Lomažs. His performance, scoring 19 points and facilitating the game with seven assists, was pivotal. His ability to make crucial shots in the final moments turned the tide in Latvia’s favor.
TNE: Yes, those shots were game-changers! But can you shed light on how the team maintained their composure after initially falling behind?
LO: Certainly! Basketball is as much a mental game as it is physical. The Latvians showed resilience, particularly after facing an 11-point deficit in the second half. Their comeback was bolstered by strategic plays and teamwork, as seen in the balanced scoring from players like Krister Zorik and Mārci Šteinberg. The synergy among players is crucial in high-pressure moments.
TNE: I see you mention teamwork. How essential was it for Latvia to have multiple players contributing to the score, especially when they were chasing the game?
LO: It’s critical. When multiple players are threats on the court, it creates a dynamic offense that can be hard to defend against. This helps in alleviating pressure from key players like Lomažs, allowing for better floor spacing and openings for shots. Each player’s contribution—like Strautiņš’s rebounds—supports overall efficacy.
TNE: The Latvian team now stands firmly in subgroup C with four wins, while Belgium and Spain each have two. How does this position Latvia for their future games, especially with the final tournament approaching?
LO: Latvia’s strong positioning gives them significant momentum heading into future matches. Not only have they secured a spot in the final tournament taking place in Riga, but they’ve also demonstrated consistency and adaptability, which are crucial as they plan for tougher opponents. Their ranking as ninth in the FIBA is a testament to their hard work, and home court advantage could play a significant role in the final tournament.
TNE: Speaking of rankings, there’s a notable disparity between Latvia and Belgium, with Latvia sitting at ninth and Belgium at thirty-ninth. How does this affect the psychological dynamics between the teams?
LO: Rankings certainly impact confidence levels. Latvia, being the higher-ranked team, likely entered the game with an edge of expectation and self-assuredness. However, Belgium’s competitive spirit shouldn’t be overlooked. They played strongly and had their moments, but the psychological pressure weighs heavier on lower-ranked teams. Latvia’s ability to rise to this pressure while maintaining their composure speaks volumes about their coaching and preparation.
TNE: Speaking of coaching, the team management has transitioned recently with Artūrs Visockis-Rubenis taking over. How might this change influence the team’s performance moving forward?
LO: Leadership changes can lead to shifts in team strategy and dynamics. Visockis-Rubenis will need to establish his approach quickly. However, the immediate impact will depend on how well he communicates and gets the players to buy into his philosophy. If successful, this can be a catalyst for further improvement as the team gears up for high-stakes games.
TNE: Fascinating insights, Linda. What are the areas you think Latvia needs to improve upon to ensure ongoing success, especially heading into the final tournament?
LO: Defense will be key. While their scoring has been impressive, they’ll need to tighten their perimeter defense to contend with teams that can shoot effectively. Furthermore, enhancing ball movement can lead to smarter shots and keep their opponents on their toes. Continuous improvement in these areas will be crucial for maintaining their winning streak.
TNE: Thank you so much, Dr. Ozoliņa, for sharing your expertise! It’s been a pleasure discussing the dynamics of Latvian basketball and their promising future.
LO: Thank you for having me! I look forward to seeing how the tournament unfolds. Go Latvia!
TNE: And to our readers, be sure to stay tuned for more updates and analyses on the exciting world of basketball!