Former Latvian basketball player Helmanis has commented on the disappointing start of the national team's World Cup qualification campaign following a narrow defeat to Poland. He believes that the team performed well overall despite the loss, suggesting that luck played a significant role in the outcome. Helmanis stressed that there is no shame in losing to Poland, given their stronger performance in the last European Championship where they ranked higher than Latvia.

Helmanis pointed out that the results of the upcoming games are heavily influenced by the team roster and the mindset of the players. He noted the difficulties of playing two matches against the same opponent in quick succession, particularly after losing in the final seconds of the first game. He expressed confidence that the players showed character during the match, managing to come back from a deficit and briefly taking the lead in the final minutes of the home game.

Lastly, he advocated for stability within the coaching staff, indicating that changing the coach would not be beneficial at this stage of the qualification. Helmanis believes that the character of the players will ultimately determine the remainder of the qualifying cycle, emphasizing the importance of mutual support during challenging times.