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After shocking final yr with fifth place of their first World Cup match, the Latvian basketball workforce welcomes the Olympic qualification match in Riga because the favourites. . Of the six contributors, three different nationwide groups have justified their claims and hopes of successful the identical ticket to Paris. Latvia will begin tonight at 19:00 towards one in all them – Georgia.

Financial institution plan

Check matches towards Egypt (84:63) and Finland (84:90) have raised questions in regards to the readiness of the Latvian nationwide workforce for the Olympic qualification match. However a very good reply is the expertise of the earlier years – final yr and the yr earlier than the official video games, unconditional defeat in Lithuania, and nice victories after that. In the identical approach, one can perceive the considerations in regards to the lack of the workforce – we’re used to enjoying with out Kristaps Porzingis, this time we is not going to have the primary scorer of the nationwide workforce within the World Cup and the pillar of protection Andrejas Gražulis. However the truth is that the top coach Lukas Banki has a plan to strengthen the underside of the basket as a result of Andrzej Pasechnik is omitted of the twelve. The middle has had the most effective season of his profession, twice being acknowledged as probably the most helpful participant within the Spanish championship circuit. Nevertheless, Klāvs Čavars suits into Lukas’ system extra organically, and the World Cup proved that Latvia can win with out robust facilities.

In comparison with the World Cup, the nationwide workforce is strengthened by the boldness of Rihards Lomaž, the safety of Jānis Strēlnieks, the power of Jānis Timmas and the expertise of Marek Mejers.

Georgian towers

In whole, there are 4 qualifying competitions for the Olympic Video games, additionally in Greece, Spain and Puerto Rico. From a sporting standpoint, Latvia can not complain in regards to the draw, they must play towards Georgia and the Philippines within the group. Two years in the past, Georgians confirmed the worst end result at residence within the European Championship since 2011 – twenty first place out of 24 groups, final yr they reached the spherical of 16 on the World Cup, the beat Cape Verde and Venezuela at a low degree, however they misplaced. no arguments to Slovenia, Germany and Australia. For the reason that starting of this yr, the Georgian nationwide workforce has been led by Serbian Aleksandar Dzikich, who till then labored with Jerusalem “Hapoel” for a season and a half, main it to victory within the cup competitors – a the final victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv, which began within the Euroleague. Mareks Mejeris was additionally a part of “Hapoel” that yr.

Georgians push to the underside of the basket – probably the greatest tall gamers within the Euroleague is Tornike Shengelija, who represents Bologna “Virtus Segafredo” led by Banki, in addition to two 2.11-meter tall facilities born in 1999 from the Nationwide Basketball Affiliation – Aleksandrs Mamukelasvili and Goga Bitadze shouldn’t have an enormous place in San Antonio and Orlando, respectively (10 and quarter-hour per recreation on common this season), however the extraordinarily robust collected information. The Georgians are represented for the primary yr by the pure American Joe Thomason, who by no means performed in Georgia, however left two years in the past after the blood cash of the Russian residents. The 30-year-old playmaker began final season in Spain, however completed with Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Georgians ready for the qualification match for greater than per week in Latvia, earlier than which they misplaced to Italy in the one official check match. Georgia are but to win beneath Džikić’s management, as in addition they misplaced to Denmark and Serbia in February.

The Philippines, which has participated within the earlier three World Cups, received one in all its 5 video games final yr, beating China, which was sufficient to qualify for the Olympic Video games. Ninth place within the Asian Cup two years in the past, let’s do not forget that Lebanon received the cash, which Latvia bought over final yr in Jakarta.

The second main scorer of the World Cup with a median of 26 factors per recreation was the Filipino level guard Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz, however this summer time the top coach of the nationwide workforce Tim Cone has not invited the largest star as a result of he desires to construct on the lineup performed through the season. Three Philippine nationwide workforce gamers characterize Japanese golf equipment, whereas the remainder play in home competitors.

Basketball. Latvian nationwide workforce

Rodions Kurucs, Mareks Mejeris, Dāvis Bertāns, Dairis Bertāns, Jānis Timma, Jānis Strēlnieks, Rolands Šmits, Artūrs Strautiņš, Klāvs Čavars, Rihards Lomažs, Kristers Zoriksūsr.

• And the group: Latvia (5-6*), Georgia (16-23), Philippines (24-37).
• group B: Montenegro (11-17), Brazil (13-12), Cameroon (didn’t qualify for 68).

* locations within the 2023 World Cup and FIBA ​​rating

Video games schedule

• 2 July
  • Brazil – Montenegro 15.30
  • Latvia – Georgia 19.00
• July 3
  • Montenegro – Cameroon 15.30
  • Latvia – The Philippines 19.00
• 4th of July
  • The Philippines – Georgia 15.30
  • Cameroon – Brazil 19.00

The highest two groups from each teams will advance to the semi-finals on Saturday. The ultimate is on Sunday.

All video games will likely be broadcast reside by TV6.

Higher to be a darkish horse

Luka Bankihead coach of the Latvian nationwide workforce: “Georgia is a really skilled, proficient workforce, European type of basketball, excessive, utilizing conditions behind the scenes. We now have to play rigorously. The Philippines has a distinct philosophy of basketball , however I hope we are going to play in our type and never focus an excessive amount of on The house workforce has by no means certified for the Olympic Video games greater than earlier than, the qualifying match has created a picture for us, everybody desires to play nicely towards us, we have now to work onerous.