In the Latvian U16 Baltic Cup in Kaunas, in the third round of the boys’ tournament, the Latvian team beat the Estonian national team – 77:61 (13:18, 28:28, 53:49) and finished 2nd in the tournament with two victories. The first was won by the Lithuanian “green” team, which defeated the Lithuanian “White” team in the last match with 74:71.
The Latvian team did poorly at the end of the first quarter, from 13:10 to 13:18. They then regained control and kept a small margin until the end of the fourth quarter, when Estonian resistance was completely broken. A good review of the loss to the Baltic Sea Cup in Tallinn in January,
Latvians prevail in three-pointers (10/32 – 3/23), in the fight for rebounds (50-40), but more mistakes (21-16).
Dāvis Ozers scored 19 points, Mārtiņš Zuments 13, Kristofers Karlsons 10 (7 passes), Ernests Ločmelis 10.
Latvian U16 national team head coach Agris Galvanovskis:
“It is good that we won two games, but there is a feeling of work not done, because we did not use real opportunities to win the third match as well. The Lithuanian “green” team did not have bright talents, but everyone worked with great fighting spirit, collecting 23 balls at our basket. We did not lack centimeters, but they were not enough.
Overall, we played better than in the winter tournaments, but the results should not be overestimated. Lithuanians, combining all the best forces in one team, would be more powerful, this time the 210 cm tall leader, who trains in the Real system of Madrid, did not help the Estonians.
Against the background of our opponents, we do not lack talent, but the rival teams were more fierce, more sporty. Many still want to get the result by playing in “white gloves”, but in modern basketball it does not go through. When conclusions are drawn, the result also appears. Like today, when we broke Estonian resistance in the second half. ”
Dans Galdiņš received the award for the best player of the Latvian team.
