RIGA (Latvia) - There were nine minutes and 22 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter when Davis Bertans knocked down a three-pointer to put Latvia up by 11 points (49-38) in a tight game against Serbia on Thursday night.

The shot brought the whole Arena Riga crowd to its feet as a giddy Bertans pranced back on defense, three fingers raised in both hands. That make later proved to be a meaningful one for Latvia which won a hard-fought game 66-59. At the moment it seemed as if those present sensed it.

One game break later Bertans was even singing a Latvian pop song together with the crowd - Latvia are not known as 'the singing nation' for no reason, it seems.

It all started with the Latvian national anthem, though, which brought tears to the player's eyes. The 10,000 in attendance sang it a cappella. 

"I think we broke the game wide open by singing the anthem together," the 29-year-old remarked after the game. "I hadn't felt such emotions my whole life. I think that should become a tradition for all our national team games."

It's a moment for which he, perhaps, had waited ever since May 26 when his NBA season for the Dallas Mavericks ended. Bertans's team proved to be the second to last opponent for the eventual champions the Golden State Warriors. 

Only 10 days later Bertans was already in a gym in Riga. It was the date that marked the first individual practice sessions organized by the Latvia national team. The participants were of various ages, with many players and even coaches still not there.

Former Dallas Mavericks teammates Boban Marjanovic and Davis Bertans were in action in Riga.

Yet brothers Davis and Dairis Bertans were ready to go.

"I don't know whether you could call it recreation", Bertans quickly quipped in a press conference when asked about his time off. "I spent time with my children, travelled and then recovered from jet lag."

After all, the forward is well accustomed to such events during the year's warmest months. Bertans has repped his nation the last three times (2017, 2018 and 2021) it played official games during the summer. Each of those campaigns, Dairis was there beside him. Only now his older brother is the team's captain.

"I THINK IT MIGHT ONE OF THE BIGGEST NIGHTMARES FOR THE OPPOSING TEAM."- Davis Bertans on playing with brother Dairis

Not that Davis is without a special role. For example, he is the elder statesman who is in charge of the music selection in the locker room. High-scoring guard Rihards Lomazs already dubbed him DJ Davis.

Meanwhile, on the court their responsibilities are not only connected with leading the team, but are also related to their skillset. Head coach Luca Banchi is running sets that see both brothers curl through screens one after another. The NBA forward's presence adds another element to an already relentless Latvia offense that prides itself in constant movement and sharing the ball through all positions.

Rihards Lomazs enjoying himself in an electric Arena Riga

The order of them exiting the paint past screens varies. Dairis Bertans says that both brothers are adept at sensing what the other will do, so they simply need to read what the defense gives them. "If he sees that he won't be able to use the screen first, he sets a screen for me."

"I think that it might be one of the biggest nightmares for the opposing team," says Davis, taking pride in their off-ball dance.

Yet the battle against Serbia proved to have elements of a rock fight, which contrasted the free-wheeling 101-100 loss in Belgrade the last time around.

Both teams had great odds to secure a head start in Group I where Belgium, Greece, Turkey and Great Britain will join them. Thus every shooter on the court had to claw and scrap for the slightest of daylight.

"It's been this way with basically all national team games these last couple of years," said Bertans when asked about his attempts at getting open. "They let us play physical basketball. I tried my best at getting more open. Our bigs did a very good job."

Given their 2-for-15 luck from long range, no wonder that Latvia was down 25-31 after the first half. That percentage improved (7-for-31 for the game) as the hosts made their deciding run. However, as it happens in such contests, Bertans praised the team's effort on defense as the main factor for the victory.

With a 3-1 record against top three-placed Group A teams, Latvia seems to have made a notable step towards its first World Cup appearance. Yet the experienced forward doesn't take anything for granted. "Every game is important. I'd even say that the first game in the next stage against Group B's third-placed team is the most important one."

Davis Bertans locked in on guiding Latvia to its maiden World Cup

He should know. Both Bertans brothers made their EuroBasket debut way back in 2011. That particular generation of Latvian basketball players kept on improving until they faced Slovenia in a game for the ages at the 2017 Quarter-Finals. For the time being, it's the last tournament they have qualified for. And in this window both brothers are the sole remaining players from that 2011 campaign in Lithuania.

Aided by younger Latvian stars they will seek to close this group out on Sunday in Slovakia. "Go to Slovakia, take a week off and then return to practice," Bertans relays his plans for the summer. "There's not much time remaining."

Not much time until August? "Of course," says the Latvian basketball legend who knows the drill quite well.

FIBA