Luca Banchi: 'FIBA windows are putting players at risk' / News - Basketnews.com

Latvia NT coach Luca Banchi explained how the World Cup qualifiers, as well as the absence of a joint calendar between FIBA and the EuroLeague, can provoke serious problems to the players involved.

Credit: BNS Credit BNS

When FIBA decided to move the 2023 FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers matches from November 10th and 13th to November 11th and 14th, the Latvian Basketball Association (LBS) reacted instantly.

The LBS released a message where the Association blames FIBA for changing the calendar without taking the member federations' interests into account.

Latvia are currently 1st in Group I of the Second Round with 5 wins and only 1 loss. The two games in the November window against Greece (away) and Great Britain (home) might be crucial for the team to solidify a spot in the World Cup.

Before the matches with Greece and Great Britain, coach Luca Banchi spoke about the problems he's facing. The Italian expert still believes that his team still has a lot of work to do, especially because it cannot rely on their best players.

Credit BNS

"We cannot gather the best players, and there are unexpected problems that we face at the last minute. We are in a very difficult group, and we knew that from the beginning," Banchi said before Latvia travel to Heraklion, Crete.

"The fact that we're the group leaders makes our job difficult on the one hand, because the opponents will pay more attention when preparing the matches against us," Banchi said .

At the last moment, Rodion Kurucs, who played for Partizan last year before moving to Spanish side Betis, complained about a pain in his left leg. A muscle tear was diagnosed, so he will have to take a break for about a month. On the other hand, after two years, veteran Janis Tima, who has been without a club since the end of last season that found him in the NBA development league, is returning to the national team.

"Janis is here to play. We are not organizing a party for him in Latvia. He's here because we believe he is ready to play and help the national team. He is experienced and suitable for this level of basketball. Of course, he's missed some games, but we have practices ahead of us which will help him find a rhythm."

As FIBA ​​and the EuroLeague cannot find a common calendar that suits players and coaches, Banchi cannot hide his displeasure with the fact that the main protagonists don't have enough time for rest.

"EuroLeague and FIBA ​​have some kind of misunderstanding. I don't think moving games by one day changes much. Coaches who play many games in the season believe that the windows are a risky opportunity for basketball players to get injured.

This system has already proven that it doesn't work anymore. There is clearly a conflict between the two organizations," the former Olimpia Milano and Montepaschi Siena tactician argued.

"A wider view has to be taken of the extremely tight schedule which is now putting players at risk of injury. Last summer, many had to leave to help the national teams immediately after the championship playoffs," added Banchi, who will have 16 players available for the aforementioned two contests.

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