Latvia’s Basketball World Cup Upset Raises Eyebrows
JAKARTA (AFP) – In a stunning upset, Latvia’s national basketball team defeated defending champions Spain at the Basketball World Cup on Friday, Sept. 1. With this victory, Latvia, regarded as tournament debutants, added Spain to their list of giant-killing conquests, having previously beaten Tokyo Olympics silver-medalists France in the group stage.
The 74-69 win against Spain has made Latvia’s players national superstars and brought immense pride to their home country. However, head coach Luca Banchi has issued a word of caution, imploring his players to be wary of “fake friends” that may appear after their recent success. As Latvia is set to face Brazil in their final second-round game on Sunday, a spot in the quarterfinals is on the line.
“Our achievements have put us in a risky moment,” stated Banchi. “After beating France, too many people have been talking, texting, and engaging in social media. This is the time when fake friends may emerge. I hope the guys stay humble, maintain the same will and desire, which they have shown since the beginning of our adventure.”
Initially, Latvia appeared to be heading for defeat as Spain took a comfortable 58-47 lead into the end of the third quarter. However, the Baltic team displayed tremendous resilience, outscoring the defending champions 27-11 in the final quarter to secure the improbable victory.
Latvia’s power forward Davis Bertans, the leading scorer of the game with 16 points, downplayed the significance of defeating Spain compared to their earlier victory over France. “That game against France put us in a situation we’ve never been in before,” remarked Bertans. “If we’re unable to compete at this level against Brazil and come up with a win in that game, this victory won’t matter as much.”
Before this match, Spain boasted a perfect record, having won all three of their first-round matches. Despite the loss, head coach Sergio Scariolo expressed satisfaction with his players’ attitude on the court. “We know our strengths and weaknesses, some of which were more evident tonight, but the will to win was definitely there,” stated Scariolo. “In the last quarter, we allowed Latvian players to score too easily, and our ball movement wasn’t up to par.”
All eyes will now be on Latvia as they prepare to face Brazil, with a chance to secure passage to the quarterfinals. The team’s remarkable journey has captivated fans and raised hopes of further surprises in this year’s Basketball World Cup.
