Setback for Latvian Basketball as National Team Faces Another Qualifying Loss
The Latvian national basketball team suffered another defeat in the FIBA World Cup qualifying rounds, raising concerns about their prospects in the tournament. The loss to Poland adds to a challenging period for the team, impacting their overall performance and potential for advancement.
Rihards Lomažs, a key player for the Latvian national team, has been a focal point of discussion following the recent games. Lomažs, currently playing for Neptūnas Klaipėda of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL), expressed criticism towards the officiating during a game, stating, “I wanted everyone to know her name.”
Lomažs, born April 13, 1996, has had a diverse professional career, playing for teams across Europe including Jelgava, Jūrmala, Ventspils, ASVEL, BG Göttingen, Merkezefendi Basket, Zaragoza, Baskets Oldenburg, Virtus Bologna, and Telekom Baskets Bonn. He won the Latvian–Estonian Basketball League championship in 2019 with Ventspils and was named Finals MVP that same year.
Most recently, Lomažs signed a one-year contract with Neptūnas Klaipėda on August 6, 2025, as reported by Delfi Krepšinis. Prior to joining Neptūnas, he played for Yukatel Merkezefendi of the Basketbol Süper Ligi and Telekom Baskets Bonn of the Basketball Bundesliga, averaging 9.1 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 16 games with the German team.
In the 2023-2024 season, Lomažs also competed in the EuroLeague with Virtus Bologna, appearing in 8 games and averaging 3.3 points. He is currently on the extended list of candidates for the Latvian national team and is preparing for the European Championship, which begins in less than a month. He was also named to the tournament’s best players five during the Olympic qualifying tournament in Latvia in 2024.
The Latvian team’s recent struggles, including a defeat marked by a last-second three-pointer from a naturalized Polish player, highlight the competitive nature of international basketball and the challenges faced by national teams in qualifying events. This loss underscores the importance of consistent performance and strong officiating in achieving success on the global stage.
