Latvian U18 team loses to Spain by one point in final warm-up
Latvia's U18 junior basketball team lost a close game to Spain 68:69 in their last preparatory match before the European Championship. Despite strong inside play and three-point shooting, turnovers proved costly.
The Latvian U18 junior national team played its final warm-up game before the European U18 Championship, which starts July 26 in Trentino, Italy. In a tournament held in Salamanca, Spain, the Latvians lost 68:69 to their Spanish counterparts.
Latvia excelled in rebounding and three-point shooting (9/22), but committed significantly more turnovers than Spain (26 vs. 16). The top scorers were Rihards Čerņevskis with 17 points and Raivo Kudrjavcevs with 16 points. Edgars Lieķis and Ralfs Aleksandrovs did not play in this match.
In previous warm-ups, Latvia defeated Lithuania's U18 team (73:60) but lost to Serbia (58:65). In the first cycle of preparation games in Riga, the team lost to Israel (65:73) and Turkey (71:78), while beating Georgia (82:67).
The next test will be the Baltic Cup tournament in Kaunas, where Latvia will face Estonia on July 17, Poland on July 18, and Lithuania on July 19.
Earlier it was reported that due to US college commitments, two key players – Ričards Aizpurs and Gunārs Grīnvalds – will not be available for the European Championship.
The European U18 Championship Division A will take place from July 25 to August 2 in Trentino, Italy. Latvia is in Group D alongside Spain, Italy, and Estonia.
