Miezis: European gold built on teamwork, not individual brilliance

Latvia's men's 3x3 basketball team became European champions on Sunday in Antwerp, defeating second-seeded Netherlands 19:10 in the final. The squad — Nauris Miezis, Rihards Kuksiks, Zigmārs Raimo and Kristaps Gludītis — entered the tournament seeded sixth and finished undefeated, winning both group-stage games and all three playoff matches.

Speaking to reporters, Miezis said the final's lopsided score didn't reflect how tough the game actually was. He described the Dutch players as tall and athletic, but said Latvia successfully dictated the pace of play, which the opponents were unable to match.

The opening game set the tone

Kuksiks pointed to the team's first match of the tournament — a hard-fought win — as the turning point that carried the team through the rest of the competition, describing it as digging their way out of the mud early on.

Miezis emphasized that the team's success came from unselfish play and constant ball movement rather than any single standout performance. He praised Gludītis and Kuksiks for their shooting from distance and Raimo for his defensive work, including a block that set up an easy assist for Miezis himself.

Same style, different lineup

Although the roster for the European Championship differed slightly from the one that competed at the World Cup, Miezis said this did not prompt any change in approach — the team stuck with its established style of play, crediting head coach Raimonds Feldmanis for the tactical setup.

Latvia's men's 3x3 team has now won both the World Cup and the European Championship this year. Miezis attributed the results to the broader development of Latvian basketball, while Kuksiks credited a structured preparation system, including excellent training conditions in Tenerife. This marks Latvia's first European title in the discipline since 2017.