Latvia erases big deficit to stun Spain in Fiba World Cup

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Latvia Fiba World Cup

Latvia celebrates after beating defending champion Spain within the Fiba World Cup second spherical. -FIBA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines-Latvia pulled off the unthinkable within the 2023 FIBA World Cup on Friday evening, toppling defending champion Spain with a huge upset, 74-69, on the Indonesia Enviornment in Jakarta.

Showing on the worldwide stage for the primary time, the Latvians worn out a double-digit deficit within the fourth interval and displayed the identical tenacity in beating world-class France within the opening spherical that left the 2019 world champions thunderstruck.

Rodions Kurucs assured the win with two free throws that pushed Latvia to a five-point cushion within the remaining 8.6 seconds on the way in which to a primary win within the spherical of 16, their third general in 4 video games to tie Spain in Group L.

Kristers Zoriks made the most important performs in reversing the Spaniards, pumping all of his 11 factors within the final 5 minutes, together with two consecutive threes that tied the whole lot at 61.

Davis Bertans confirmed the way in which with 16 factors and Kurucs hit 13 and pulled down eight boards for the Latvians, who will face Brazil on Sunday with a victory sending them straight to the quarterfinals.

Willy Hernangomez powered his method to 14 factors whereas Usman Garuba and Dario Brizuela contributed 11 every in a shedding effort for Spain forward of its essential conflict with unbeaten Canada following Saturday’s break.

Kurucs eluded a stifling protection with a curl within the paint, giving Latvia its first style of the lead earlier than Bertans jacked it as much as 37-32 with a nook three.

However Spain, infamous for sporting down their opponents with a smothering protection, buckled all the way down to work with Hernangomez tying the depend at 42 with a pair of freebies previous to a deep three by Brizuela that shattered the final impasse.

The Latvians simply couldn’t purchase a basket and for the following 4 minutes allowed the Spaniards to construct a double-digit benefit.

Garuba’s three-point play made it 52-42 and one other incursion that fetched a foul for 2 free throws closed out the third with Spain forward by 11.

However Latvia, which shocked France early within the group part that despatched the two-time bronze medalists to the classification spherical, simply refused to name it an evening.



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