In their historic first appearance at the FIBA World Cup, Latvia clinched a comfortable win against Lebanon – 109:70.
The match showcased Latvia’s impressive offensive performance, led by coach Luca Banchi, marking a memorable debut on the global basketball stage.
Latvia made a remarkable entry into World Cup history with a convincing victory against Lebanon. The team’s outstanding offensive display, guided by coach Luca Banchi, rendered the game free of any suspense.
The Bertans brothers played a pivotal role in the first half, securing Latvia’s lead. The team made a total of 11 three-pointers and entered halftime with an insurmountable advantage of 55:30.
KP approves โ #FIBAWC x #WinForLatvia ๐ฑ๐ป pic.twitter.com/JlhleAqjhJ
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 ๐ (@FIBAWC) August 25, 2023
In the second half, Latvia maintained their lead, extending it to as much as 35 points.
Dairis Bertans stood out as the top scorer for the winning team with 20 points, followed by Rolands Smits with 17 points, and Andrejs Zagars with 12 points. On the opposing side, Sergio El Darwich contributed 19 points, and Omari Rasulala Spellman scored 18 points.
In the next match of Group H, Latvia will face France, while Lebanon’s next opponent will be Canada.
First half
Latvia, the favored team prior to the match, began strongly, employing their signature fast-paced game and three-point shots to dominate their opponents and establish a substantial lead.
Within just six minutes of play, they had a 10-point advantage at 19:9. They maintained the same rhythm until the end of the first quarter, securing a 14-point lead at 27:13. However, Lebanon managed to reduce the gap to 27:17 by the quarter’s end.
The second quarter saw a similar pattern, with Latvia continuing their dominance. Three minutes into the quarter, the score was 38:22, and Lebanon’s coach had to call a timeout after Latvia’s eighth three-pointer, executed by Davis Bertans. By halftime, Latvia had extended their lead to an impressive 25 points at 55:30, with Dairis Bertans shining as a standout player, shooting four out of five three-pointers.
Second half
Latvia carried their momentum from the first half into the second. They quickly stretched their lead to 35 points at 71:36 after a fantastic dunk by Smits. They maintained their advantage until the final 10 minutes of the game, leading 82:48.
In the last quarter, Latvia executed their tasks proficiently, though the rhythm naturally declined. The match will be remembered for Latvia’s outstanding shooting performance, securing their first victory in the World Cup.