On Sunday, June 7, in Warsaw, the Latvian men’s national 3×3 basketball team — Nauris Miezis, Kārlis Lasmanis, Francis Lācis and Zigmārs Raimo — defeated Germany 20–15 in the FIBA 3×3 World Cup final, capturing the only major international title that had previously eluded Latvia.
Kārlis Lasmanis was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and also finished as the leading scorer, averaging 8 points per game.
In the semifinals, Latvia edged Serbia 20–19 in overtime, while the United States defeated Australia 21–20 in the women’s final.
Semifinal: Latvia 20, Serbia 19 (Overtime)
Latvia’s defensive mindset was evident from the opening moments, as the team committed two fouls within the first ten seconds of play. While this required greater caution for the remainder of the game, it did not diminish the team’s trademark aggressiveness.
Unlike several previous matches, however, Latvia struggled offensively in the first half. While the Latvian leaders searched for their rhythm, Serbia built an early advantage through long-range shooting, leading 4–1 and extending the margin to 8–4 in the fourth minute.
Despite Serbia’s lead, points were hard to come by for both teams. Francis Lācis and Zigmārs Raimo stepped up offensively, helping Latvia level the score at 8–8.
In the seventh minute, Nauris Miezis finally connected from beyond the arc to give Latvia a 13–12 lead. However, several opportunities went unfinished, allowing Serbia to regain momentum and move ahead 16–13.
Latvia responded with relentless defense and patient offense. Miezis later made it 18–17, but neither team could secure victory in regulation.
In overtime, Latvia remained committed to its perimeter game despite several missed attempts. Serbia moved within one point of victory at 19–18, but Kārlis Lasmanis delivered the decisive basket for a dramatic 20–19 win.
“I’m overwhelmed with emotions and don’t know what to say. This was a special game. We had some luck in a few moments — grabbing a key rebound, making an important shot. But most importantly, we fought until the very end,” said Lasmanis after the game.
Latvia scoring:
- Nauris Miezis – 9 points
- Kārlis Lasmanis – 6
- Francis Lācis – 3
- Zigmārs Raimo – 2
Other semifinal:
Germany 19, France 18
Third-place game:
Serbia 20, France 19
Final: Latvia 20, Germany 15
Germany settled into the final more quickly, combining efficient offense with strong defensive reads that repeatedly disrupted Latvia’s set plays. The Germans led 5–1 and later 8–4 during the opening minutes.
Latvia’s challenge was compounded by an early accumulation of six team fouls. Yet, as in the semifinal, this did not affect the quality of its defense. Latvia maintained an aggressive defensive approach throughout the game, creating increasing difficulties for Germany with each passing minute.
Midway through the contest, Kārlis Lasmanis took over offensively, scoring six consecutive points. Latvia seized the lead in the seventh minute when Nauris Miezis knocked down a two-pointer to make it 14–13.
Germany briefly regained the advantage at 15–14, but another basket by Lasmanis was followed by a determined and accurate scoring burst from Francis Lācis, pushing Latvia ahead 18–15. Germany had no response, and Latvia closed out a 20–15 victory.
Latvia scoring:
- Kārlis Lasmanis – 12 points
- Francis Lācis – 4
- Nauris Miezis – 3
- Zigmārs Raimo – 1
Historic Achievement
With this victory, Nauris Miezis and Kārlis Lasmanis have now won all three major international 3×3 basketball titles at national-team level. For Francis Lācis and Zigmārs Raimo, this is their first major international gold medal.
This was Latvia’s seventh appearance at the FIBA 3×3 World Cup. The team’s previous best finishes were a silver medal in 2018 and a bronze medal in 2023. Latvia has also reached the quarterfinals on three occasions, including the 2025 World Cup in Ulaanbaatar.
The Warsaw triumph completes Latvia’s collection of major international titles and firmly establishes the country among the world’s elite 3×3 basketball nations.
Source: 3×3.basket.lv
(Translated with artificial intellect tool)
