In a closely contested match on Friday, the Latvian men's basketball team faced a heartbreaking defeat against Poland, losing 82 to 84 in the World Cup qualification. The game was marked by a controversial officiating call from the Spanish referee Ariadna Chueca, whose performance drew criticism from Latvian captain Rihards Lomažs during the post-match press conference. Lomažs notably mentioned that this may have been Chueca's first experience officiating in front of a packed arena, hinting at her inexperience in such high-pressure situations.

Despite the loss, the match had a significant turnout with 10,829 spectators present in Riga, reflecting the growing interest and support for basketball in Latvia. The game ended dramatically with a buzzer-beater three-pointer from American player Jordan Loyd, who has been naturalized to play for the Polish team. This defeat may impact Latvia's chances of qualifying for the 2027 World Cup, adding more pressure to their upcoming games.

Lomažs commended his players for their performance despite the loss, stating he was proud of their effort. The incident brings attention not only to the result of the game but also to ongoing discussions about officiating standards in international basketball, especially concerning gender and experience. Referee Chueca, who has been officiating since 2019 at the international level, is now in the limelight and might become a topic of discussion in sports circles ahead of the upcoming European Championships.