The opening window of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers delivered three very different stories for the Baltic national teams. Latvia struggled to find its rhythm early and paid the price against an energetic Dutch squad. Estonia produced one of the most dramatic victories of the week, defeating Slovenia on the road after a breathtaking overtime finish. Meanwhile, Lithuania escaped London with a last-second buzzer-beater, turning a difficult matchup into a memorable win. Below is a breakdown of each game.
LATVIA vs. NETHERLANDS — Energy Arrived Too Late
Latvia opened its World Cup Qualifying campaign with a disappointing 78–86 loss to the Netherlands, a defeat rooted in a disastrous start. The team fell behind 0:9 by the third minute and 4:22 late in the first quarter, struggling to make shots and losing defensive discipline. Once Latvia stabilized its defense and began winning second-chance possessions, the rhythm finally appeared: the deficit shrank to 27:33 in the 17th minute. But another collapse followed — a combination of missed opportunities and defensive lapses that allowed the Dutch to restore a 21-point lead before halftime (27:48).
In the second half Latvia showed more character, cutting the difference to 50:63 after three quarters and later to 68:75 in the 36th minute. However, the Netherlands continued executing with impressive composure, scoring consistently and preventing Latvia from fully threatening the final outcome. Statistical contrasts told the story: in the first half alone, the Dutch shot 13/18 on two-pointers and 16/17 from the free-throw line. Mareks Mejeris stood out with 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists in 22 minutes (+8 efficiency while on the floor), and Kristaps Ķilps added 15 points in 15 minutes. After the game, head coach Sito Alonso pointed to nervousness, missed open shots, and phases of lost defensive responsibility, but praised the second-half effort. The Dutch coach, Johannes Roijakkers, highlighted his team’s hunger, defensive discipline—especially against Rihards Lomažs—and balanced offensive approach. Latvia now turns its focus to the upcoming matchup in Vienna against Austria.
ESTONIA vs. SLOVENIA — Kullamae’s Game-Winner Shocks Ljubljana
Estonia produced one of the biggest surprises of the qualifying window, defeating Slovenia 94–93 after overtime in Ljubljana. The closing moments of regulation were packed with drama: Slovenia’s 17-year-old Stefan Joksimovic scored a go-ahead basket with just over three seconds remaining. Estonia immediately called a timeout, executed a brilliantly designed play, and Henri Drell scored to force overtime at 79–79. The atmosphere grew tense as both teams traded runs, but the Estonians maintained belief throughout.
The decisive sequence will be remembered for years. With 12 seconds left in overtime, Slovenia held a seemingly comfortable four-point lead (93–89). Then Drell scored after an offensive rebound, and Slovenia committed a turnover on the ensuing possession. The ball eventually found Kristian Kullamae, who calmly sank a three-pointer to give Estonia the lead. Slovenia still had a chance to win, but Gregor Hrovat’s three missed, and Alen Omić’s put-back came just after the buzzer. Estonia walked away with an extraordinary road victory, signaling that it will be a dangerous opponent in this qualifying cycle.
LITHUANIA vs. GREAT BRITAIN — Sargiūnas Wins It at the Buzzer
Lithuania began its qualifying campaign with a dramatic 89–88 victory in London, thanks to a sensational buzzer-beating three-pointer by Ignas Sargiūnas. The first half was difficult for the visitors: Great Britain controlled the tempo, led 21:16 after the first quarter, and extended the gap to 51:38 by halftime. Lithuania struggled defensively and could not impose its rhythm, allowing the hosts too many open looks.
Everything changed in the third quarter. Lithuania delivered a dominant 30:16 run, fueled by aggressive defense and improved ball movement. By the 28th minute the score was tied 63:63, and a late three-pointer by Mantas Rubštavičius pushed Lithuania ahead heading into the final quarter (68:67). The fourth quarter brought more turbulence: the Lithuanians fell behind by five (70:75), recovered through key shots by Arnas Velička and Sargiūnas, then fell behind again after British three-pointers. With 3.5 seconds left and down by two, Lithuania stole the ball, Sargiūnas sprinted into transition, and hit a stunning game-winning shot at the horn. It was a statement victory for Rimas Kurtinaitis’ team and a thrilling start to Lithuania’s World Cup qualifying path.
Sources: basket.lv, eurohoops.net, basket.lt
