On Sunday, June 7, in Warsaw, the Latvian men’s national team — Nauris Miezis, Kārlis Lasmanis, Francis Lācis, and Zigmārs Raimo — captured the FIBA 3×3 Basketball World Cup title by defeating Germany 20–15 in the final. The victory secured the only major international title that had previously eluded Latvia’s celebrated 3×3 basketball program.
Kārlis Lasmanis was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and also finished as the competition’s leading scorer, averaging eight points per game.
In the semifinals, Latvia defeated Serbia 20–19 in overtime. In the women’s final, the United States edged Australia 21–20.
World Champions to Be Welcomed in Riga
A ceremonial reception for the world champions will take place on Monday, June 8, at the Latvian Basketball Hall of Fame Basket on Krišjāņa Barona Street 107 (Daugava Sports House Square). The exact time will be announced via the @basketbols social media channels.
Semifinal: Latvia 20, Serbia 19 (Overtime)
Latvia’s defensive intensity was evident from the opening moments, as the team committed two fouls within the first 10 seconds of the game. While this forced greater caution, it did not reduce Latvia’s trademark aggression.
Unlike several previous matches, however, Latvia’s active defense was not matched by an efficient offense in the first half. As Latvia’s leaders searched for their rhythm, Serbia took control with long-range shooting, building a 4–1 lead and extending it to 8–4 in the fourth minute.
Nevertheless, points were hard to come by for both teams. With Francis Lācis and Zigmārs Raimo taking greater offensive responsibility, Latvia fought back to level the score at 8–8.
In the seventh minute, Nauris Miezis finally connected from long range to give Latvia a 13–12 advantage, but missed opportunities allowed Serbia to regain momentum and move ahead 16–13. Latvia responded with disciplined defense and patience, eventually drawing level once again.
Miezis gave Latvia an 18–17 lead late in regulation, but neither side could secure victory before the buzzer.
In overtime, Latvia continued to trust its perimeter shooting despite several unsuccessful attempts. Serbia moved within one point of victory at 19–18, but Kārlis Lasmanis delivered the decisive shot to seal a dramatic 20–19 win.
“Emotions are overwhelming; I don’t even know what to say. This was a special game. We had some luck in certain situations — grabbing a few rebounds, making some key shots. But most importantly, we fought until the very end,” said Lasmanis after the game.
Scoring for Latvia:
- Nauris Miezis – 9 points
- Kārlis Lasmanis – 6
- Francis Lācis – 3
- Zigmārs Raimo – 2
In the other semifinal, Germany defeated France 19–18.
Third-place game:
- Serbia 20, France 19
Final: Latvia 20, Germany 15
Germany settled into the final more quickly, combining accurate shooting with several well-timed defensive reads that disrupted Latvia’s offensive sets. The Germans built early leads of 5–1 and 8–4.
Latvia’s challenges were compounded by accumulating six fouls early in the game. Yet, just as in the semifinal, the foul situation did not diminish the team’s defensive quality. Latvia’s aggressive defense became increasingly effective as the game progressed, creating growing problems for the German offense.
Midway through the contest, Kārlis Lasmanis took over offensively, scoring six consecutive points. Latvia seized the lead in the seventh minute when Nauris Miezis knocked down a two-pointer to make it 14–13.
Germany briefly regained the advantage at 15–14, but after another Lasmanis basket, Francis Lācis delivered crucial plays with determination and precision, helping Latvia pull away to 18–15. Germany had no answer, and Latvia closed out a memorable 20–15 victory.
Scoring for Latvia:
- Kārlis Lasmanis – 12 points
- Francis Lācis – 4
- Nauris Miezis – 3
- Zigmārs Raimo – 1
A Complete Collection of Titles
For Nauris Miezis and Kārlis Lasmanis, the World Cup triumph completes an unprecedented collection of major international 3×3 basketball titles with the Latvian national team. Francis Lācis and Zigmārs Raimo celebrated their first gold medal at the highest level.
This was Latvia’s seventh appearance at the FIBA 3×3 World Cup. Prior to 2025, the team’s best results were a silver medal in 2018 and a bronze medal in 2023. Latvia had also reached the quarterfinals on three occasions, including the 2025 World Cup in Ulaanbaatar.
Now, Latvia stands atop the world as FIBA 3×3 World Champions.
Source: 3×3.basket.lv
