By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Latvia head coach Arnis Vecvagars announced the players of the national team’s preliminary roster ahead of the first two games for Round 2 of the World Cup Qualifiers that will be held on September.
San Antonio Spurs forward Davis Bertans, who played in the June-July games, will be absent but his brother, Olimpia Milano guard Dairis Bertans, returns to the team, to join two more EuroLeague players: Olympiacos guard Janis Strelnieks and Olympiacos forward Janis Timma. The latter will debut in the World Cup Qualifiers.
Latvia’s preliminary squad is as follows:
Jānis Strēlnieks – Olympiacos
Kaspars Vecvagars – SSA Szcecin
Ingus Jakovičs – BK Ventspils
Aigars Šķēle – Antibes Sharks
Dairis Bertāns – AX Olimpia Milan
Jānis Blūms
Artūrs Ausējs – VEF Rīga
Rihards Lomažs – BK Ventspils
Artis Ate – VEF Rīga
Jānis Timma – Olympiacos
Artūrs Strautiņš – Trieste
Ojārs Siliņš
Andrejs Gražulis – VEF Rīga
Artjoms Butjankovs – VEF Rīga
Rolands Šmits – Fuenlabrada (ESP)
Mārtiņš Meiers – Enisey (RUS)
Latvia will face reigning EuroBasket champion Slovenia on September 14 in “Arena Riga” and will then travel to Madrid for a game vs. Spain on September 17. Spain is the Group I leader with a 6- 0 record following a spotless run in First Round of the World Cup Qualifiers. Latvia stands third with 4-2, tied with second Turkey. Montenegro (3-3), Ukraine (3-3) and Slovenia (2-4) follow.
The first three teams from each Group advance to the 2019 World Cup while the rest proceed to the EuroBasket 2021 Qualifiers.