September 7 preview: Regroup and move on in Classification Round
MANILA (PHILIPPINES) - There's no time for regret in the FIBA 2023 Basketball World Cup, with four nations battling it out in some very intriguing games of the Classification Round.
MANILA (PHILIPPINES) - There's no time for regret in the FIBA 2023 Basketball World Cup, with four nations battling it out in some very intriguing games of the Classification Round.
Even though their dreams of the Semi-Finals are over, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia still have to account for the FIBA World Ranking Men, presented by Nike, which might prove vital at numerous points in the future. An event like the Paris 2024 Olympic Qualifiers comes to mind.
Lithuania and Slovenia meet again
Talking about Olympic Qualifiers... Last time we saw these two teams battle it out, Luka Doncic silenced the usually wild Kaunas crowd in 2021 with a 30-point triple-double in a 96-85 victory that landed the Slovenians in Tokyo.
The Olympic ticket was much more important, of course, yet it also broke the five wins in six games streak that Lithuania was on against Slovenia.
Lithuania might feel like we're rubbing salt in their wounds after we bring up the curse of beating USA that tends to lead teams down the wrong path.
Yet, perhaps, Slovenia is experiencing some different phenomenon, where the other North American giant Canada suffered a wake up call against Brazil and used that to their advantage by knocking out FIBA World Cup 2019 champions Spain and then dismissing Slovenia.
Either way, they are now forced to match up in yet another European classic.
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Luca Banchi faces his homeland
Two years ago it would have seemed weird for coach Luka Banchi. Not only to face Italy on the court, but to be in the FIBA World Cup Quarter-Finals with Latvia, the coach admitted after their heartbreaking loss against Germany.
However, now it's time to face that reality as Italy also try to bounce back from their own blow in the Quarter-Finals against USA.
Italy and Latvia haven't played each other since FIBA EuroBasket 2011. That being said, Banchi has coached both Luigi Datome and Nicolo Melli in Italian club basketball. Meanwhile, Latvians like Andrejs Grazulis and Arturs Strautins have made a career for themselves in Italy.
There will be no unknown mysteries for Italy head coach Gianmarco Pozzecco and Banchi. Only a battle of will where both teams will have to show their strength to regroup.
FIBA