Cipruss: if Beruē feels the nation's love, he'll want to return to the team

Latvian Basketball Federation president Aigars Cipruss described being overwhelmed with emotion after the national team's gold-medal victory, saying he was nearly speechless from tears of joy. He credited the win to the team's unity, noting that whenever one player struggled, another stepped up to carry the team through.

Cipruss singled out the game against France, comparing the team's comeback to the movie "Space Jam" — a difficult start followed by a strong finish, with Benjamin Beruē taking charge in the decisive moments.

Praise for the coach

Cipruss also praised head coach Edgars Šlesers, noting that the team's steady rise in recent tournaments — from seventh to sixth and now first place — was no coincidence but a result of the coach's experience. The federation intends to try to reach an agreement with Šlesers to continue working together.

Hopes for Beruē's future

Discussing Benjamin Beruē's future with the Latvian national team, Cipruss said the federation would do everything possible to keep him playing for the red-white-red colors. He stressed this applies not only to Beruē but to every young player, adding that the federation's task is to make players feel welcome and loved by the public. According to Cipruss, if players feel the nation's support and affection, they will want to keep returning to the national team in the future.