Gailītis explains why Latvia let victory over Ukraine slip away

Latvia's men's national basketball team lost a friendly match to Ukraine in Riga on August 23, and head coach Jānis Gailītis explained the reasons behind the defeat afterward. According to the coach, Ukraine proved to be a tough opponent, and Latvia lacked consistency in the middle of the second quarter, leading to too many mistakes. Gailītis noted that the opponents capitalized with an easy-basket run, and in the closing stages Latvia conceded several shots near the basket — a problem he said needs to be solved through better defense rather than difficult shot-making.

During the third quarter, Kārlis Šiliņš was forced to leave the court after a collision with an opposing player, taking a heavy blow to the nose, and did not return for the rest of the game. Gailītis expressed hope that Šiliņš would be able to continue with the national team if there is even the slightest chance.

Ukraine's win was largely driven by Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, who finished with 25 points and whom Latvia failed to contain in the first half. The coach admitted that the team sometimes underestimates how important a collective effort from all players is to stop a single standout scorer, though Latvia handled this better in the second half.

Latvian player Artūrs Strautiņš, who scored 20 points in the match, said that securing wins even in friendlies matters, as it makes preparation for official games easier. He noted the team lacked aggressiveness late in the game and said the kind of easy baskets Ukraine scored cannot be allowed against upcoming opponents.

Upcoming matches

In the second round of 2027 World Cup qualifying, Latvia will travel to face Croatia on August 27 and host Israel at home on August 30. Group K is currently led by Poland with a 6-0 record, while Latvia sits fourth with three wins in six games. Earlier in the week, Latvia also lost to Slovenia 86:89 in Ljubljana.