LAT - Hosts name final squad for Worlds

VALMIERA (FIBA U19 World Championship) - Latvia has announced the final list of players for the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship. The roster of the host country will include 11 players from the side that won bronze medals in the 2010 FIBA Europe U18 Championship in Vilnius.

The new face in the team is Ojars Silins, a talented forward, who is playing his club basketball for Trenkwalder Reggio Emilia and was the last one to be axed last year by coach Ziedonis Jansons.

As in last year, the focus of Latvia's offensive schemes will be Davis Bertans, who got drafted by the Indiana Pacers in this year's NBA draft, but ended up in the San Antonio Spurs after a draft night trade. Bertans carried Latvia to bronze medals last year, earning the all-tournament team honours on the way.

Despite missing last year's team captain Andris Misters, Bertans will be surrounded by a talented cast of players like Janis Timma, Edmunds Dukulis and Kaspars Vecvagars, which can definitely lift the quick and mobile Latvian roster to success, especially playing at home.

The Latvians will play in Group C of the World Championship, forming a group with the likes of Argentina, Australia and Chinese Taipei.

Latvia's 12-man roster:

Kaspars Vecvagars, Davis Coders, Ojars Silins, Karlis Apsitis, Davis Bertans, Renars Magone, Arturs Bremers, Janis Timma, Edmunds Dukulis, Arturs Vitins, Arnolds Helmanis, Aleksejs Rostovs.


FIBA