Luca Banchi, the head coach of the Latvian national basketball team, shared his analysis of the FIBA World Cup quarterfinals in a recent media interview.
Despite Latvia’s 81:79 loss, there are many reasons for satisfaction. While there’s undoubtedly disappointment over Davis Bertans missing the game-winning three-pointer and the chance to advance to the semifinals, no one can deny the fantastic performances the Latvian team displayed throughout the tournament.
Luca Banchi began his remarks by emphasizing the broader perspective of their journey, stating,
Brotherly love. ๐ฑ๐นโค๏ธ๐ฑ๐ป
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 ๐ (@FIBAWC) September 6, 2023
A group of Lithuanian fans showed up to support their their neighbors tonight.#FIBAWC x #WinForAll pic.twitter.com/FLtItgeZK3
“Of course, this is a big disappointment now, but we must not forget the bigger picture of everything we’ve done on the court. The way we played, the identity we showed against all opponents. From Jakarta to Manila, we’ve competed with the best teams in the world and proved that we can hold our own against any opponent. That’s what makes me exceptionally proud.”
Fourth quarter
“At the beginning of the fourth quarter, we played the worst part of the match. The opponent took advantage of that, maybe someone forgot that we played against a team with four NBA players and several Euroleague players. I believe we did a great job, but when you play against a team like that, not everything can go according to plan.
In defense, during those minutes, they had several mistakes, in attack, we were in a hurry. We are not perfect, far from it, but we are also proud of our flaws.
“I believe that the goal is quite clear. We came to the FIBA World Championship in a combined team with several young players, but also experienced ones. Working well together, these seniors have helped the young players settle in. The goal is not the pre-qualifications for the Olympic Games, but all that is left to finish at the FIBA World Championship. We have two more games, of course our hearts are broken, but we have to play”.