Latvia’s Basketball Team Loses to Georgia; Gailītis and Lomažs Comment

Latvia’s men’s basketball national team suffered a defeat in a friendly match against Georgia. After the game, head coach Jānis Gailītis noted that Georgia applied strong pressure on the ball, with leader Markīzs Rīds scoring 23 points. He admitted that despite the players' efforts, the last five minutes were bad.

Team captain Rihards Lomažs described the performance as uneven, which is normal for June, emphasizing that results are needed in July. He added that the team has not yet focused on upcoming opponents Netherlands and Austria. Gailītis agreed with Lomažs, stating that big men are not scoring machines but help the guards. He praised Roberts Blumbergs, Klāvs Čavars, and Mārcis Šteinbergs, while noting that Rolands Šmits missed his shots.

Gailītis stressed the need for a demanding environment but acknowledged that basketball is not scripted. He highlighted maintaining a positive atmosphere where every player is valued. The immediate plan is to assess the health situation and possibly work with a smaller squad, though no official announcement has been made. Latvia’s qualification matches are scheduled for July 3 against the Netherlands and July 6 against Austria.