Latvia will be better after players learn from increased roles, Peiners insists

PANEVZYS (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Zanis Peiners and most of Latvia's players had increased roles in the first window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers back in November. And Peiners says that will make the emerging European power that much better for the upcoming Qualifiers later this month.

The 6ft 8in (2.03m) swingman averaged 21.5 points, 5.5 assists and 5.0 rebounds in 34 minutes per game in Latvia's first two games - an 85-73 loss at Turkey and an 82-73 win at home against Sweden in Group B.

Those were all a drastic increase from the small forward's numbers at FIBA EuroBasket 2017, where he collected 5.1 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 13 minutes a game.

"In the first two games, coach (Arnis Vecvagars) gave me good playing time, a big role on offense and trusted me a lot. If the situation is the same next time, I will try to do my best to get those two wins," said Peiners, referring to Latvia's next two Qualifiers - home games against Ukraine on February 23 and Turkey on February 26.

He was not the only Latvian with a larger role than at EuroBasket 2017. He was one of five players from November's World Cup Qualifiers side returning from the team that reached the Quarter-Finals at Europe's biggest competition and bowed out there to eventual champions Slovenia. The other four were Janis Blums, Aigars Skele, Rolands Smits and Andrejs Grazulis who, like Peiners, all saw hikes in their playing time and production.

"THE BIGGEST THING WE TOOK AWAY FROM THE FIRST WINDOW WAS THE EXPERIENCE BECAUSE NONE OF US EVERY PLAYED SUCH BIG ROLES IN THE NATIONAL TEAM AND OF COURSE WE WERE A LITTLE BIT STRESSED. I THINK WE WILL BE BETTER IN THIS UPCOMING ROUND OF GAMES" PeinersPeiners

Peiners and the rest of that group were not exactly accustomed to carrying such a load for the national team. But the Lietkabelis Panevzys forward says they will be better in the February window thanks to what they gained last time out.

"The biggest thing we took from the first window was the experience because none of us ever played such big roles in the national team and of course we were a little bit stressed," said Peiners, who has played in two EuroBaskets. "I think we will be better in this upcoming round of games."

The next window will also be a second chance for the team to work with new national team head coach Arnis Vecvagars, who took over from long-time coach Ainars Bagatskis following last summer's EuroBasket.

"It was a very short time for the new coach to bring in his philosophy so we just put in some new things and kept some sets and systems from EuroBasket," Peiners revealed. "I think coach did a good job and we executed our minimum plan for first two games - one win."

Last November's Latvian team included seven players aged 24 years or younger. And the 27-year-old Peiners believes that is a trend that will continue.

"I think we have a lot of young talented guys - also a lot of them will join the national team in the next few years. So I think the average age of the national team will be even younger in the next 5-10 years. We have a bright future for sure," Peiners added.

Peiners was tied fourth highest scorer (21.5 points per game) during November's European Qualifiers

Latvian players, coaches, management and fans all hope that bright future includes an appearance at China 2019 - which would be the first time the country has qualified for the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

"I think we should play in the next one for sure since the number of teams has increased. But we will see. The road is really tough," he said.

And when asked about the importance for Latvian basketball to be playing at China 2019, Peiners said: "With our talent, I think our goal is not just to go there but to achieve something big there."

FIBA