LAT - Nerips eyes Turkey

RIGA (EuroBasket Women/2014 FIBA World Championship for Women) - Every team that makes it to the EuroBasket Women in France has a chance of reaching the 2014 FIBA World Championship in Turkey.

The key words are “every team”.

Surprises happen.

Few would have predicted Croatia's ascension at last year’s EuroBasket in Poland, which allowed them to compete at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women (OQTW) and then earn a place at the London Games.

Who could have foreseen Turkey's best-ever finish at a EuroBasket Women coming last year, a silver-medal?

That allowed them to also book a place in London via the OQTW in Ankara.

At every qualifying event for an Olympics, or a World Championship, there are sure to be unexpected results.

In 2007, Belarus and Latvia were the big surprise stories at the EuroBasket Women in Italy.

Belarus made the most of their first experience in Division A by qualifying for the Final Round in Chieti and they didn't just make up the numbers but made a stunning run to the bronze medal.

Latvia also shocked everyone with a fourth-place finish in Chieti.

Both teams then capitalized on the strong runs by going to the OQTW in Madrid and claiming spots for the Beijing Games.

The Latvians lost their momentum, falling to Russia after overtime at the EuroBasket Women they hosted in Riga in 2009 and ultimately missed out on the World Championship in the Czech Republic.

Despite a strong start last year at the EuroBasket Women in Poland, they finished out of the top five and missed going to the OQTW in Ankara.

Under new coach Aigars Nerips for the first time, Latvia won five of their eight games in this summer's Qualification Round to book a place in France next year.

Could the Latvians be ready to raise eyebrows again and make it to Turkey for the World Championship in 2014?

The Latvian Basketball Federation decided to extend Nerips' contract to run through next summer, and he has one thing in mind going to France.

Nerips, asked about his aim for France, answered: "In a European Championship context, I am speaking not as a goal, but a landmark - the fifth place that will give us right to play in the 2014 World Championship in Turkey.

"It would be a considerable incentive for both experienced basketball players and young.

"In any case, we will do everything going step by step.”

FIBA