By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Latvia followed up their elimination of France in the first phase of the FIBA World Cup with a 74-69 victory over defending champions Spain at the start of the second phase, thanks to an amazing fourth-quarter turnaround.
Davis Bertans was the top scorer with 16 points, but Rodions Kurucs did a great job in the end, finishing the match with 13 points and eight rebounds. Andrejs Grazulis, Rolands Smits, and Kristers Zoriks added 11 points each. Let’s not forget that Latvia lost their first star, Kristaps Porzingis, just before the tournament began.
For Spain, who had a 12-point lead in the third period, Willy Hernangomez scored 14 points, while Dario Brizuela and Usman Garuba added 11 apiece.
“Congratulations to Latvia and Luca. They played a really good game with good ideas and concentration until the end, especially in the fourth quarter. Our players fought until the end. We know our strengths and weaknesses, which showed tonight, but the will was there. We allowed them to play too easily in the last quarter, didn’t move the ball enough, and, of course, faced the usual issue of the short blanket: when we had to play defense, we struggled in offense, and when we needed to play offense, we struggled in defense,” Sergio Scariolo said at the press conference after the game.
After a balanced game in the first half, it was Spain that began to take over the game in the third. Rudy Fernandez made a tough 3-pointer at the shot clock buzzer, and his teammates joined the party to put them ahead 54-42 with 2:13 to play. That was a 12-0 run in almost four minutes for the Spanish side.
Latvia looked ghastly in the third quarter but hadn’t said its final word. They came back from being down 12 points in the third quarter and ultimately tied the game at 61 with 5:15 remaining after two consecutive triples courtesy of Kristers Zoriks.
Zoriks also hit the go-ahead floater for a 65-63 lead. Davis Bertans made a three-pointer from the corner, and then Rodions Kurucs drove to the basket to put Latvia up 70-65 with 1:28 left in a stunning turnaround. Spain tried to come back; Dario Brizuela hit a big three-pointer to make it 69-71. Zoriks then hit only one free throw to give Spain a chance to tie, but Brizuela committed an offensive foul after missing a floater, and Rodions Kurucs secured Latvia’s win from the free-throw line.
“Great win, a special night. Some good memories to have, but it’s time to reset and focus on the next game. Incredible effort for 40 minutes. I’m proud of how we stayed in the game, despite moments where we shook as a team during the third period. It was a very tight game in general, with 14 lead changes. Great intensity, and to see guys fight and compete with such a powerful team, World and Europe champions, makes me very proud,” Latvian head coach, Luca Banchi, stated after another huge victory.
Both teams are now 3-1 with one game remaining before the quarterfinals, but Latvia now holds the upper hand over Spain.
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