Latvia show guts as France go out of FIBA World Cup

AFP
Jakarta
Tokyo Olympics silver medallists France were eliminated from Basketball World Cup title contention on Sunday after losing 88-86 to Latvia.
France, who also lost their opener to Canada, did not trail in the game until Latvia took the lead with just over 30 seconds remaining in Jakarta.
Arturs Zagars then nailed a free throw to put Latvia ahead by two points with 10 seconds remaining, and Sylvain Francisco missed a three-point attempt with France’s final chance.
The result means France cannot finish higher than third in Group H, ending their chances of winning the Naismith Trophy a year before they host the Paris Olympics.
“It’s a huge disappointment for us,” said forward Nicolas Batum, one of several NBA players in the French squad. “We came here with big expectations. We let a lot of people down, ourselves first. We have a big thing coming up in 12 months so we have to look back on what happened.”
France’s Nando de Colo was ejected for two unsportsmanlike fouls late in the fourth quarter. Latvia, who are making their tournament debut, outscored France 26-12 in the fourth quarter.
France head coach Vincent Collet said the defeat was “a nightmare”. “After the first defeat from Friday we were expecting a reaction,” he said.
“I think we got it - a real one because during three quarters we played much better - but it was not enough because we have suffered from something from Friday.
“Our spirit was not at the Latvian level and I think that made the difference in the last couple of minutes.”
Latvia won their opening game against Lebanon 109-70 and are now guaranteed to reach the next round.
Power forward Davis Bertans called their victory over France “the biggest win in Latvian basketball history since 1935”.
“Getting a win like this against one of the top teams in the world, and feeling like we were playing at home, is an incredible feeling,” he said.
Batum said he was “scared to go home”.
Instead they got what Batum said was “a good kick in the butt” just 12 months out from the Paris Olympics.
“I wasn’t really ashamed with that jersey but that’s the first time I’m really ashamed,” said Los Angeles Clippers forward Batum.
“I’m scared to go home because we have let a lot of people down. A lot of people in the country believed in us to do something.
“They believed in it and we didn’t do it.”
France went into the game on the back of a 95-65 roasting by Canada in their tournament opener.
They never trailed against Latvia until the Baltic side took a one-point lead with just over 30 seconds remaining.
Arturs Zagars then nailed a free throw to put Latvia ahead by two points with 10 seconds remaining, and Sylvain Francisco missed a three-point attempt with France’s final chance.
Latvia outscored France 26-12 in the fourth quarter, which also saw French playmaker Nando de Colo ejected for two unsportsmanlike fouls with minutes remaining.
Latvia were roared on by the crowd in Jakarta and fought their way back from several deficits throughout the game.
Power forward Davis Bertans said he and his team-mates “kept pushing”.
“Probably a lot of teams would have put their heads down knowing that the other team on paper were stronger and better in almost all the positions,” he said.
“We knew that we had to stay close in the game and we just needed that one opportunity, whenever it was.
“Fortunately it came 37 seconds before the buzzer.”
Latvia won their opening game in Group H, 109-70 against Lebanon. They are now guaranteed a place in the next round and Bertans said they “didn’t come here to participate”.
“The job is still the same - nothing is done,” he said. “The more wins we can collect now, the better the chances for us to go further and do something even more special.