It has already been reported that the Latvian U-19 basketball team lost 75:79 (18:15, 18:19, 25:14, 14:31) to its peers from Puerto Rico in the first game of the World Cup in Daugavpils on Saturday.
–
In the ranks of the Latvian national team, Vanags was the most productive with 17 points, 13 points and seven rebounds were for Rhodie Machoch. Tom Skush had nine points and seven assists, while Noah Williamson added eight rebounds for seven points.
–
Almost the entire game was led by the Latvian national team, which at one time was even in the lead with a 15-point lead, but the opponents were able to pull out the victory at the end of the match.
–
“The key to the game is the mistakes themselves, which also decided the fate of the game. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, we gave a lot of points in a short time, allowing opponents to throw in an ’empty’ basket,” said Mazur.
–
“We defended poorly one on one. Zone? Opponents change defenses in every match and have to adapt. There was a lack of speed of the ball, there were wrong decisions. We are far from the basketball we would like to play. We must continue to work and fight to make better use of opportunities. in every game, “explained the head coach.
–
Krišs Helmanis, one of the potential leaders of the national unit, was injured in the preparation cycle. He joined the game on Saturday from the reserve bench because he did not have much training before the start of the tournament due to an injury.
–
“I think he got into the game well. Definitely at the beginning of it,” said Mazurs about Helmani, who knew how to name several defects that Latvian basketball players need to fix before the next match.
–
Mazur did not hide that the team played poorly against one on Saturday. The same was confirmed by Helmanis.
–
“In one-on-one situations, they eventually passed and started to score too many points. We couldn’t find help at the bottom of the basket, and we sometimes made mistakes when rotating players on the court,” Helmanis recalled some of the episodes. “In the attack, we seemed to throw difficult three-point shots, but there were also lighter shots that we didn’t execute.”
–
Helmanis did not hide that he had not yet regained his best form, which was also visible in the performance. He stated that he initially felt tired quickly, but later got used to it and tried to improve his performance.
–
On Sunday, the Latvian national team will meet with Iran, and two days later with Serbia. This and the eighth final will be broadcast live on TV6.
–
Only spectators who have an interoperable Covid-19 or Covid-19 vaccination certificate recognized in Latvia (applies to all ages) will be able to attend the games in person. Tickets can be purchased on the website basket.lv.
–
The exclusion tournament will take place from 9 to 11 July in Riga at the Olympic Sports Center and “Arena Riga”.
–
Latvia also hosted the World U-19 Cup in 2011, when the tournament took place in Riga, Valmiera and Liepaja.
–
In 2011, young Lithuanian basketball players won in Latvia, but Jons Valančūns was recognized as the most valuable player in the tournament. Well-known players such as Dāvis Bertāns, Mateušs Ponitka, Rauls Netu, Kevin Pangoss, Dario Šaričs, Dags Makdermots, Tims Hardevejs junior, Jeremy Lembs, Jānis Timma and others took part in the tournament.
–
Composition of the Latvian U-19 national team for participation in the World Cup:
–
Krišs Helmanis (“Prat”, Spain), Dāvis Denafs (“Ogre”), Kristians Feierbergs (BJBS “Rīga” / DSN), Richard Kļanskis (“Orlandina”, Italy), Rhodie Machoha (Fuenlavrad “Urbas”, Spain), Richard Debtor (“Ogre”), Tom Skuja (Santantoni “Ibiza Feeling”, Spain), Christian Schulz (“Ventspils”), Richard Daniel Vanags (“Riga” / “A. Kraukļa VEF BS”), Noa Viljamsons (“Latvia University “), Valters Briedis (” University of Latvia “), Noels Enrijs Slivackis (” Riga “/ DSN -” VEF “basketball academy in Valka).
— .
:quality(80)/cdn-kiosk-api.telegraaf.nl/48afba36-dca2-11eb-81ec-02d2fb1aa1d7.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
