By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Dairis Bertans was among the four EuroLeague players included in the preliminary roster of the Latvian national team ahead of the World Cup Qualifiers but he won’t participate in the games held during November’s Window.
“Τhe management of the club (Olimpia Milano) didn’t forbid me to play but I can’t stop taking the employer’s point of view into account. They want to spend time in training and team development, not exhausting travel. I won’t be with the team in November,” said Bertans in an interview with Sportacentrs.
“The club management told me that ‘We cannot impose or prohibit you anything. The decision is yours’. Given the situation and the employer-employee status, it would be in the club’s interest to see me training and playing in Milan. To grow up as a team and be ready for the next Euroleague game,” he added.
Ultimately, the decision was mutual. “I talked with coach Simone Pianigiani and GM Flavio Portalupi and came to a joint decision so that the club will fight successfully in EuroLeague.”
The Olimpia Milano shooting guard will miss the matches against Turkey in Ankara (23 November) and Sweden in Riga (26 November).
“FIBA has put basketball players in a terrible situation – the choice (for playing at the club or in the national team) has fallen on the players’ shoulders” Bertans also mentioned.