The loss in the second match of Monday’s 3 × 3 basketball tournament against the team of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) must be forgotten, because the Tokyo Olympic Games are not over yet and the decisive matches are still ahead, the Latvian national team captain Agnis Čavars said in a conversation with journalists after the failure.
It has already been reported that the Latvian 3 × 3 basketball team with Čavars, Nauri Mieze, Kārlis Pauls Lasmanis and Edgars Krūmiņš also lost on the sixth game of the Tokyo Olympic Games tournament on Monday, giving up the ROC unit with 15:19. The most productive for Latvia with six points was Lasmanis, Miezis scored four points, Čavars three, who also had 12 rebounds, and Krūmiņš, who won three rebounds, scored two points.
“You probably have to eat more eggs for breakfast. There is no need for us. We couldn’t post our shots. You have to go to the field with confidence and “put” your throws, “Miezis was harsh after the second failure in a conversation with journalists on Monday. At the beginning of the game, the Latvian national team often tried to get the ball to the bottom of the basket. Miezis did not hide that this was the team’s tactic, because the least mobile in the ROC unit is Iļja Karpenkovs, 2.04 meters long. The plan succeeded, and the team was on free throws, but in the long-throw index, a very sad picture – two throws out of 13 (15%).
“This was not our day, we couldn’t throw anything in,” adds Chavars. “I think this game should be forgotten, because the tournament is not over yet. We have accumulated victories and have scored a lot of points, so there is nothing to survive. Tomorrow is the game again. Let’s see what happens in the “play-off”, because the most important matches are still ahead. “
In both the Latvian national team and the ROC team, two players often requested a change at the end of the match at the same time, although it is possible to replace only one team member. Barley did not hide the fact that after six games a little fatigue has accumulated. “It has been a long tournament, we have played several games. Here is a different format. Of course, fatigue makes you feel, but that is not an excuse, ”explains Miezis in the square. “We will regenerate as usual, thanks to physiotherapists.”
The ROC unit did not surprise anyone. “They threw, we didn’t,” says Batman, known in the 3 × 3 basketball family. Latvia made ten of the 18 single-point shots, while the opponents had exactly five of the 13 attempts. In contrast, in two-point shots, Latvia alone had two hits in 13 attempts, while the opponents scored six of the 16 shots. Both teams 100% scored free throws – Latvia – one, ROC team – two.
The ROC team previously beat China with 21:13 in Tokyo, 15:18 for the Netherlands, 16:21 for Belgium and Poland, and 19:16 for Japan on Monday. The best ROC team in the world is in 18th place. It has already been reported that in the first fight of the day, in a duel between two world leading teams, Latvia lost to Serbia with a result of 16:22, suffering a second loss in the tournament.
On Saturday, Latvians defeated Poland with 21:14, but with 20:21 acknowledged the superiority of Belgium, but on Sunday, Latvian basketball players defeated China with 18:17 and defeated Japan with 21:18. On Tuesday, when it will be in Latvia at 12.25, the Latvian team will play the last game of the group tournament with the Dutch.
After three days of competition, the Latvian national team with three victories in six games takes the fifth place in the group. Serbia have won all six games. There are four victories for the Netherlands, three for Belgium and the ROC team, two for China and Poland, and one for Japan.
It has already been reported that in the first match of the tournament, Latvia defeated Poland with 21:14, then conceded with Belgium with 20:21, followed by success with 18:17 against China. Japan was then defeated with 21:18, and Serbia’s main favorite had to be recognized with 16:22. Latvia still has one subgroup game with the Netherlands, which will take place tomorrow. The ROC team previously beat China with 21:13 in Tokyo, 15:18 for the Netherlands, 16:21 for Belgium and Poland, and 19:16 for Japan on Monday.
The Olympic 3 × 3 basketball tournament, in which Latvia hopes to fight for medals, will run until July 28. In a 3 × 3 basketball tournament, there is only one group with eight units fighting. The play-off will include the top six, whose races will continue in the 1/4 final, but the two strongest will miss the quarter-final phase after the group tournament and automatically reach the semi-finals.
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