Bagatskis rolls out promising Latvia squad featuring Porzingis, Bertans

RIGA (FIBA EuroBasket 2017) – Latvia have rolled out an incredibly talented 22-player candidate list for their upcoming FIBA EuroBasket 2017 campaign, headlined by New York Knicks big man Kristaps Porzingis and San Antonio Spurs forward Davis Bertans.

Equipped with top-level players in all five positions, coach Ainars Bagatskis will be in charge of arguably the most powerful and complete squad the country has assembled in recent times.

Latvia preliminary 22-player squad for FIBA EuroBasket 2017
Arturs Ausejs	Dairis Bertans	Davis Bertans	Janis Berzins	Kaspars Berzins
Janis Blums	Klavs Cavars	Rolands Freimanis	Andrejs Grazulis	Ilja Gromovs
Ingus Jakovics	Kristaps Janicenoks	Davis Lejasmeiers	Martins Meiers	Anzejs Pasecniks
Zanis Peiners	Kristaps Porzingis	Ojars Silins	Aigars Skele	Rolands Smits
Janis Strelnieks	Janis Timma

Having expressed his commitment to joining the national team in a press conference in his hometown of Liepaja back in April, the addition of Porzingis has quietly inserted Latvia into the medal conversation.

"We have already talked about the role I envision for him and I heard out his thoughts. We are thrilled he's willing to be with the team and practice from day one," an upbeat Bagatskis said in the squad presentation on Latvian morning television.

However, Latvian optimism ahead of FIBA EuroBasket 2017 stems not only from the knowledge of Porzingis finally making his senior national team debut, but also depth in other positions on the court.

The time-tested national team stalwarts Janis Strelnieks, Dairis Bertans and Janis Blums will once again be the central axis of the backcourt, while Davis Bertans, Janis Timma, Ojars Silins, Kristaps Berzins and Anzejs Pasecniks will take care of the frontcourt duties.

"The first training camp will begin on July 17 in Riga, but we will not have a full-strength squad for the first friendly games in Finland," said Bagatskis, who expects to have all of his players together in August.

The only availability-related questions involve Davis Bertans and Latvia's rising star Anzejs Pasecniks, but coach Bagatskis hopes to have them onboard the national team ship as well.

"Davis Bertans has repeatedly expressed his desire to play for the national team, but he'll have to talk with the San Antonio Spurs management at the end of June regarding his participation. Meanwhile, the summer schedule of Anzejs Pasecniks will largely depend on the results of the upcoming NBA Draft," the playcaller explained.

The high-octane Latvia side finished 8th at FIBA EuroBasket 2015 in France, registering the country's best result at the Final Round of the competition since an identical showing in 2001.

Hoping to take another step forward this year, the Bagatskis-coached side will play nine friendly games against the national teams of Czech Republic, Finland, Georgia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania throughout the preparation process

Latvia were drawn to the Istanbul-based Group B for the FIBA EuroBasket 2017, where the Baltic side will face Belgium, Great Britain, Russia, Serbia and Turkey in the Group Phase.

FIBA