By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Latvia’s preparation campaign ahead of hosting FIBA EuroBasket 2025 from the Group Phase until the knockout stage in Riga started and finished against the same opponent, Italy.
However, the outcome of these two friendly games was completely opposite. While the Italians enjoyed the home win in Trieste back on August 9, this time, Latvia bounced back 83-67 in Athens.
Enjoying the win after getting beaten by Greece at the start of the Acropolis Tournament, Luca Banchi’s team could now head back to Riga on a more positive note.
Kristaps Porzingis finished with 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. He was followed by Rolands Smits (13 points and 3 rebounds) and Davis Bertans (12 points and 3 rebounds).
Italy, instead, didn’t have Danilo Gallinari available and Simone Fontecchio struggled to find shooting consistency. Matteo Spagnolo and Momo Diouf combined for 31 points in the loss.
PHOTO CREDIT: FIBA