Majenieks casts the net wide for Latvia
RIGA (FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup) – Latvia head coach Kaspars Majenieks has handed a chance to 19 players to compete for a spot at the FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup in Belarus.
The Baltic nation appeared for the first time at the event two years ago in Zaragoza and will make it consecutive appearances when they hit the hardwood in Minsk.
| Latvia 19-player squad for FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup | |||
| Kerena Ansone | Dagne Apsite | Evelina Fricsone | Daniela Grigorjeva |
| Eva Indriķe | Paula Kļescova | Raivita Koreņika | Laura Meldere |
| Anita Miķelsone | Zane Novikova | Jete Nulle | Eliza Poisa |
| Aleksa Purmale | Betija Rudzite | Eliza Saicane | Una Steinharde |
| Elvija Versele | Ketija Vihmane | Flera Vinerte | |
Majenieks guided this core of players to fourth place at the FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship 2016 in Bourges, with much expected to hinge back on the all-action play of Jete Nulle and power of center Laura Meldere.
The former handed out 4 assists per game in France, but is currently carrying an injury, while the highly rated Meldere dominated in the paint with a sensational double-double of 14.1 points and 12.1 rebounds during the tournament.
Those numbers attracted interest from outside of her homeland and she has been continuing her basketball education at Italian second tier side, Pordenone.
During the preparation stage the team will be in camps in Liepaja and Daugavpils and play some valuable test games. They will face Belarus in Daugavpils with the Belarusian team, Finland U18 in Riga and also a tournament in Liepaja featuring Canada, China and USA.
Latvia find themselves pitched into group D against Angola, Australia and Canada.
FIBA
