Latvian basketball players will compete with their peers from Australia for the 9th-12th place in the World U19 Cup game taking place in Latvia today. The game will take place in Riga at the Olympic Sports Center at 17.30.
The Latvian national team led by Nikolai Mazur lost to their peers from Puerto Rico in the group tournament (75:79), defeated Iran with 58:48 and lost to Serbia with 70:71. In the eighth final, Latvia lost to Senegal with 44:57, but in the quarterfinals, South Korea won the fight for 9.16th place with 90:67.
Meanwhile, Australia defeated Mali with 97:67, lost to Turkey with 62:64 and the United States with 66:87. In the eighth final with 73:86 he lost to Spain, but in the quarterfinals in the fight for 9.16 with 95:52, Puerto Rico was destroyed.
So far, Australia has thrown a little better from all distances, while Latvia has fought better for rebounds (43 on average against 40 opponents). The other indicators are also very similar. Australia has been more aggressive and has caught 11 balls in a game against seven against Latvia, but Latvia has more often blocked opponents’ shots (five blocked shots against two).
Australia scored more points for opponents’ mistakes (26 against 14.8 against Latvia), fast attacks (14.2 against 9.6), as well as on the penalty area (38 against 30.4) and with reserve hands (35.6 against 24, 6).
So far, the most productive in the Latvian national team has been Richard Daniels Vanags, who scored 12 points on average in the match. 11.6 points for Kriš Helman (largely due to 30 points against South Korea), but Rhodie Machoha stood out with 10.4 points.
In the ranks of opponents, Daison Deniels has scored 14 points, but Janeine Galloway – 10.6 points.
In the test match before the championship, Latvia played a draw with the Australian team 71:71.
The Latvian U19 national team is playing in the World Cup for the fourth time. In 1999 he won the 9th place, two years later the state unit ranked lower, while in 2019 he had to settle for the 12th place. Three years ago, in the European Cadet Championship, the team of boys born in 2002 took eighth place.-
This is the 14th time in the U19 World Cup for the Australian national team. Only in 2017, this team did not enter the final tournament. He did best in 2003, winning the final over Lithuania. In 1995, Australia won second place. Two years ago, the team ranked ninth.
The winners will fight for the ninth, but the losers – for the 11th place.
The elimination tournament from Friday to Sunday in Riga takes place at the Olympic Sports Center and “Arena Riga”.
Only spectators who have an interoperable Covid-19 or Covid-19 vaccination certificate in Latvia (applies to all ages) can attend the games in person. Tickets can be purchased on the website basket.lv.
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