Latvia head coach Luca Banchi stated his staff “doesn’t need a coach any more” after the event sensations booked its place within the quarterfinals Sunday with a win over Brazil.
Latvia is making its World Cup debut and has already crushed Tokyo Olympics silver medallist France and defending champion Spain in Jakarta. It clinched its place within the final eight with one other massively spectacular show towards Brazil, thrashing the South Americans 104-84.
Banchi stated his purpose as a coach was “to make the players autonomous” and he believes that point has already come.
“I believe this group doesn’t need a coach any more,” stated the Italian. “They are solid, conscious, accurate, bringing more and more confidence into the tournament. We can adapt, they know what I’m asking when we go into some choices, they know what’s the style that works.”
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Latvia, which is able to play both Germany or Slovenia within the quarterfinals, has grow to be an enormous crowd favorite in Jakarta, with native followers getting behind the staff.
The event, which is being held in Indonesia, the Philippines and Japan, now strikes totally to Manila for the ultimate stage.
Banchi stated he had been greeted by native followers when he and his assistants visited a mall in Jakarta and was shocked to listen to a few of them greet him in Latvian. He stated the town had given him recollections that “will be forever”.
“Yesterday night, I realised the task we did, not only on the basketball court but also off the court,” he stated. “How our people, our fans, and also our attitude on the court defines this unforgettable adventure.”
