By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Latvia in the FIBA World Cup is a huge challenge accompanied by the best players in the country.
Head coach Luca Banchi and his assistants reduced the initial preliminary roster to 16 players, the Latvian Basketball Association, LBS, announced Wednesday.
Dairis Bertans, Davis Bertans, Klavs Cavars, Andrejs Grazulis, Arturs Kurucs, Toms Leimanis, Mareks Mejeris, Anzejs Pasecniks, Kristaps Porzingis, Aigars Skele, Rolands Smits, Arturs Strautins, Janis Timma, Arturs Zagars, and Kristers Zoriks made the cut.
Rodions Kurucs was also included, but he is yet to be cleared for full participation in team practices. Coming in as a replacement, Marcis Steinbergs will cover to start the training camp. In contrast, both Janis Strelnieks and Rihards Lomazs were ruled out with injuries.
Porzingis, 27, is the major highlight. The second NBA player is sharpshooter Davis Bertans. Both were traded this offseason, from the Washington Wizards to the Boston Celtics and from the Dallas Mavericks to the Oklahoma City Thunder, respectively. The remaining players are scattered across Europe at the club level, except free agent Timma.
The first berth in the World Cup sends the senior national team of Latvia to Group H of the preliminary round. The 12 remaining players for Banchi’s side will face Lebanon, France, and Canada in Jakarta’s Indonesia Arena. The top half of the four-team group will enter Group L of the second round with a direct view of the Quarterfinals, but the bottom half will be held to classification games to eventually rank between 17th and 32nd.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL