Kristers Zoriks, a key player for the Latvian basketball national team, is focused on achieving victory in the upcoming qualification games, where the competition includes teams like Austria and the Netherlands. Having faced difficulty in an earlier match against the Dutch, Latvia currently holds the third position in the group. The importance of the upcoming games is underscored by the need to carry over statistical points into the next qualification round, making every game and point crucial for advancement.

The team began its training session with a squad of 14 players. Notably, Artūrs Strautiņš joined the team later from Italy, while Rolands Šmits, who plays in the EuroLeague, is still preparing for a game with Anadolu Efes. This highlights the logistical challenges the team faces as they aim to gel quickly ahead of their first game in this qualification cycle. Additionally, the team celebrated the 19th birthday of Adrians Andževs during training, which adds a positive note to their preparations.

Zoriks expressed that since he missed the first window of games for health reasons, he feels there is much to catch up on. His focus is on quickly integrating into the team’s strategies to ensure they are competitive against their opponents in the crucial matches ahead. The performance in these qualifications not only affects their chances for advancement but also reflects on the team's overall preparation and unity going forward.