Latvia go big in final roster for OQT in Belgrade
RIGA (2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments) - Latvia will field at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Belgrade next week a 12-man roster which includes two seven-footers
RIGA (2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments) - Latvia will field at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Belgrade next week a 12-man roster which includes two seven-footers, for the first time in recent history.
Head coach Ainars Bagatskis announced on Tuesday night a final roster which includes 20-year-old center Anzejs Pasecniks alongside long-serving veteran Kaspars Berzins, pairing up two players who stand at 2.13m in Latvia's frontcourt.
| Latvia 12-player roster for 2016 FIBA OQT in Belgrade | |||
| Dairis Bertans | Janis Berzins | Kaspars Berzins | Janis Blums |
| Ingus Jakovics | Martins Meiers | Mareks Mejeris | Anzejs Pasecniks |
| Ojars Silins | Aigars Skele | Janis Strelnieks | Janis Timma |
Pasecniks, who had previously represented his country only at youth level, is therefore poised to debut with the senior national team at the OQT following a solid half-season in the Spanish Liga Endesa under the orders of Aito Garcia Reneses at fifth-placed Herbalife Gran Canaria.
Ojars Silins is also set to make his senior debut with Latvia in Belgrade, an occasion which fans had been looking forward to since 2013. The versatile power forward turned heads at that year's FIBA U20 European Championship by averaging 12 points and 8.9 rebounds to help the Baltic nation claim a second-place finish. Silins went on to earn a spot on the starting five of Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia for the next three seasons, helping them win a EuroChallenge trophy and an Italian Supercup.
All players who were involved in preparations are worthy to play for the national team, the choice is determined by the style of play we plan to follow in this tournament. - Ainars Bagatskis
Meanwhile, combo-guard Aigars Skele, who is the younger brother of former international Armands, as well as point guard Ingus Jakovics have both suited up for the senior national team during the qualifying campaign for FIBA EuroBasket, but in July's OQT they are to step out at a major tournament for the first time in their career.
The last two players to be cut by Bagatskis on Tuesday night were all-round guard Zanis Peiners and 21-year-old power forward Rolands Smits. Peiners was on the Latvian roster at FIBA EuroBasket 2015 but missed big part of preparations this summer due to a dental infection while Smits is an exciting prospect who was given plenty of playing time in friendlies in the run-up to the OQT and is certain to become a staple on the senior national team in the near future.
FOTO: Nobalso par seksīgako Latvijas izlases basketbolistu https://t.co/r97UwC7IB2 pic.twitter.com/CavmsnMr0j
— Skaties SPORTS (@skatiessports) 29 June 2016
"This decision does not mean that Smits and Peiners are worse players than those who got selected, it only means that we had to make a decision," commented Bagatskis. "All players who were involved in preparations, like Rolands Freimanis and Kaspars Vecvagars who were cut previously, are worthy of playing for the national team. The choice is determined rather by the style of play which we have planned to follow in this tournament."
Bagatskis announced the roster following Latvia's final warm-up game, in which they breezed to an 85-48 win over Torino OQT-bound Iran as Dairis Bertans poured in 15 points in 12 minutes to lead five players in double digits. On Monday night, also in Riga, the Latvians had prevailed 84-55 over New Zealand who are preparing for the Manila OQT, behind a dozen points each from Janis Strelnieks and Janis Blums.
Latvia will face Japan and the Czech Republic in Group B of the Belgrade OQT. If they advance, they will go up in a Semi-Final against Serbia, Angola or Puerto Rico. The Semi-Final winners will meet to decide which team gets the coveted ticket to Rio.
FIBA