European Champions take their aim at Raiffeisen Bank Bucharest Challenger

Very few would have dared to bet that Latvia would even reach the semis at the start of the FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup 2017. But their first matches in Amsterdam were clear sign that the four boys that are scheduled to make the trip to Bucharest two weekends from now, Nauris Miezis, Karlis Lasmanis, Edgars Krumins and Agnis Kavars, were there to do some damage.

They ended up going all the way, after defeating the world champions and the best team in the world, Novi Sad (Serbia) – in the semifinals and by then getting the best of the title holder, Slovenia, in a dramatic final. The scoreboard showed 16-13 in the end for the guys from Riga. As a result of some brilliant basketball displayed, Miezis was also awarded the MVP trophy for the European competition.

Moreover, the Latvians have just won the Moscow Open, another traditional Challenger stop in Eastern Europe.

Star player: Nauris Miezis

Chosen “best player at the FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup”, Miezis led his team to the title with solid performances in every  game. He finished third in the top scorers’ board, with 31 points in five games, seven of which came in the final match, against Slovenia. Speed is his main vantage, but crossovers and stepback jumpers also serve him very good, as tremendous weapons that gain him advantage and dazzle his opponents.

The Latvian team will make a first appearence at the Challenger

Latvia sends a team for the first time to the Raiffeisen Bank Bucharest Challenger and there is no doubt that its current achievements are strong arguments to put Ghetto Basket Riga on top of the list in terms of teams to watch at this tournament. With World Champion Serbia (Novi Sad) and European Champion Latvia (Riga Ghetto Basket) on the roster, you simply cannot miss Raiffeisen Bank Bucharest Challenger!

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