The coach of Latvia, Luca Banchi, spoke after the second-round game of the newly formed L group against Brazil in the FIBA World Cup.
Banchi achieved a historic milestone with his team as Latvia convincingly defeated Brazil, securing a spot in the quarterfinals in their first appearance at the global event.
“I’m very proud of my guys. It’s great that we finished this part of the tournament in Jakarta with such a game, which confirms that we are moving in the right direction.”
“The beginning of the game was tough for us. Brazil is a specific team, as they already showed against Canada. They know how to read the details and exploit your weaknesses. We were like a boxer who took a direct hit, and at halftime, we had to raise our guard,” emphasized the Italian coach and continued:
“The entire coaching staff and players have done a fantastic job. We found a way to compete with them on the court, which resulted in a terrific third quarter where we scored 36 points. Looking at the statistics, I think the game with 26 assists and only 6 turnovers speaks volumes about the quality of basketball we are playing.”
“The memories we have created in Jakarta will stay with us for a lifetime. The way the local people have embraced our team has been phenomenal. Yesterday, I went for a walk to the shopping center, and everyone was asking for photos and showing support to our team, which was incredible. Some locals even approached us and spoke to us in Latvian. So, last night, I realized what we have achieved, not only on the court but also off it. This is an unforgettable adventure.”
When asked by a reporter which team they would like to face in the final, Luca Banchi declined to answer.
“These are two completely different teams. We should enjoy this moment, focus on our game before heading to Manila. We need to rest, heal injuries, and prepare for the next match by Tuesday.”
After halftime, Latvia looked like a completely different team on the court.
“We know basketball very well. We have a great coaching staff and smart players who can recognize things on the court and adapt. The coach’s job is to empower his players, provide instructions for them to execute on the court, and my players do that perfectly.”
“I remember a year ago when I was preparing for a game between England and Turkey. One day after training, I told my assistant coach, ‘my job is done; this team doesn’t need a coach anymore.’ It’s the same with this team; they don’t need a coach anymore. They have confidence and are progressing from game to game.”
“Some of the fans in Jakarta offered plane tickets to Manila to Coach Banchi. When I saw they were offering me tickets, I thought, ‘What is this guy doing?’ I’m superstitious, so I didn’t accept them before the game, but since the match was interesting, in the end, I said, ‘Why not?'”
Banchi emphasizes that there’s nothing Italian in the style of play of this team.
“There’s no Italian influence anywhere, not even in fashion. In the first game, I didn’t even zip up my fly, so much for fashion. I brought my personality; I have a very interesting coaching story. The person who brought me to the Latvian bench played for me during the 2000s. He believed that I could fit in with this group and this country. They have stirred up so many emotions in me; there’s no Italian seasoning here, it’s more like their Latvian flavor,” concluded Luca Banchi.