Latvia U20 Returns to European Elite with Derby Against Lithuania
After a five-year absence, Latvia's U20 basketball team returns to the top division of the European Championship, opening against vice-champion Lithuania.
Latvia's U20 men's basketball team will play its first game in the European U20 Championship top division since 2019 on Friday, July 11, at 21:30, facing last year's vice-champion Lithuania.
Latvia last played in the top division in 2019, losing all seven games and finishing last. Two pandemic years and three unsuccessful B division tournaments followed until last year in Greece, when Ainars Zvirgzdiņš led the team to wins in all seven games, including a 74:64 final victory over Croatia, earning promotion back to the elite.
This year's roster includes three players born in 2006 who were also on the team last year: Artūrs Ozols, Jēkabs Niedra, and Rolands Šulcs. Šulcs from Rīgas Zeļļi was named B division MVP with averages of 14.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 23.7 minutes. The team also features legionaries Mārtiņš Kilups (NCAA) and Tomas Talcis (Valencia, Spain), but lacks height in the frontcourt.
Lithuania started last year's championship slowly, winning only against Romania in the group stage, but then defeated Poland, Slovenia, and France in the elimination rounds before losing the final to Italy (66:83). That was Lithuania's fifth silver and eighth medal at the U20 championships; gold was won in 1996 and 2012. Latvia's only top-division medal is silver from 2013 in Tallinn.
Lithuania's squad retains five players from last year's silver team, all born in 2006, including top scorer Mants Juzēns (averaging 11.7 points and 4.4 rebounds), Mants Laurenčiks (9.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists), and Neds Raupelis (8.5 points, 5.5 rebounds).
Latvia is coached by experienced Ainars Zvirgzdiņš, who led the women's team to fourth place in Europe and the Olympic Games. Lithuania is coached by Darius Songaila, a former NBA player (nearly 500 games) and assistant coach, now head coach of Šiauliai.
In nine friendly games, Latvia won six, including one win (93:82) and one loss (91:92) against Lithuania. After the derby, Latvia will face Poland on July 12 and Serbia on July 13. The round of 16 opponent will come from Group A (Italy, Germany, Turkey, France).
