Allow wounds to heal. Conversation with basketball coach Martins Gulbi / day

Responsibility for yourself so emphasized under the influence of emotions or did you really take it in person?

I completely perceived it. Already after my previous experience, I heard the accusations of how the coach may not take responsibility for the team’s unskill for the final tournament, but at that time I perceived it differently. It is clear that not being a European Championship was my responsibility, but there are things that unfortunately I cannot control. We did all of us, we played better with each run, won Croatia, « we crossed » for Germany in the crucial game, the team went up and seemed to be fine. But then we saw what the Greece and Bulgarian teams did later in the game (the Greeks gained the 18 -point lead over the unmotivated Bulgarians in the last minute). You can say whatever you want, but I think it was a negotiated game, so it remained that the job was not done to the end.

I met a second opportunity for Kaspar Cyprus (Secretary General of the Latvian Basketball Union – Aut.) And the Coaching Council. This time it was completely my responsibility because everything was dependent on us, but we did not achieve the goals.

What was not done? However, the only losses were against France, which was at least a couple of heads superior to all other teams!

I am convinced that if the European Championship were to be held at the moment, France would not only win it, but would do so very convincingly. There is a feeling that its team can compete with even some good men’s national team. Their athleticism is indescribable. Unfortunately, the qualifying tournament playing order was not favorable to us. It was difficult, even impossible to qualify for the first place and a good point in a group with a highly superior team, and some good points compared to teams from other groups. France won all games with an average of 50 points. We lost only 22 points against them … Obviously, we did not match many factors, but we also needed to do our job better.

I can’t say any bad words about the support and collateral of the Union or how the girls fought and did everything on the pitch. Although we were not in the final tournament, I believe that this was a good stage in the growth of the team.

Where do you see the reserve that lacked the final tournament?

After the previous qualifier, in my leadership, we were essentially a six -game one to qualify for the final tournament, I particularly emphasize the importance of each point and each episode in every game. However, in the penultimate game against Israel, we had a 22 -point lead in the third quarter and an attack in which Louise Sila missed from the bottom of the basket. It became the moment of fracture, because at the time there was the feeling that Israel had already gave in, and they had a second lineup on the pitch. By continuing to grow the lead, we were able to significantly improve the overall and entered a point