Basketball expert Shahriyar Asgarov has evaluated the VEF – LANDAU Lions match (105:88) held in the qualifying round of the Champions League.

According to Offsideplus.az, the expert highlighted the reasons for the "lions" defeat, emphasising the strength of the opponent's squad:

"For the first, second period, and almost until the middle of the third period, LANDAU Lions played very well, and the match was neck and neck. Unfortunately, the opponent's playmaker Jordan Siyars disrupted all our plans. He made 7 successful three-point shots and scored 38 points, preventing LANDAU Lions from participating in the game. Although our team showed some resistance, in the end, the tight rotation revealed its effects. By the middle of the fourth period, the score difference widened, and the opponent's victory became inevitable."

Asgarov also spoke about the rich traditions of Latvian basketball and the future prospects of the team:

"VEF is a well-established team. In general, the strength of Latvian basketball is known to all of us: names like Kristaps Porzingis and Davis Bertans come to mind. One of the main reasons for the defeat is that LANDAU Lions' squad is not fully formed. Some players joined the team very recently. Nevertheless, we continue our journey in European cups. The Azerbaijan Basketball League will also start soon, and as the pressure increases, the team will gain form. However, I believe that if our clubs participating in European cups continue their training without interruption throughout the year, they will achieve better results."

The expert concluded by touching on the results of the women's world championship:

"Two days ago, the women's world championship concluded. Strong teams such as Belgium, Italy, Spain, Germany, and France were competing in the tournament. In only one of the group matches, Italy put up a serious fight against the Americans, losing by just 3 points. In other matches, the USA team won with a significant advantage, defeating France in the final to become world champions once again. In the match for third place, Spain triumphed over Germany."

It is worth noting that LANDAU Lions, who have halted their campaign in the FIBA Champions League, will continue in the FIBA Europe Cup, competing in Group G.