Valmiera basketball team loses FIBA Europe Cup opener to Kosovo's Bashkimi
Valmiera Glass/ViA lost 77:79 away to Kosovo's Bashkimi in their first FIBA Europe Cup game. The deciding points came in the final second.
Latvian basketball club Valmiera Glass/Vidzemes Augstskola played its first FIBA Europe Cup game on Wednesday, but the debut ended in defeat. Playing away, the Valmiera side lost 77:79 to Kosovo's Bashkimi after a tight contest.
How the game unfolded
The hosts had the better of the first quarter and led 27:24. The Latvian team won the second period 16:13 to level the overall score, and the teams went into the break tied at 40:40.
In the third quarter Bashkimi were sharper again and won the period 24:19. Valmiera took the final quarter 18:15, but that was not enough to turn the game around.
The loss was especially painful because the decisive points were conceded in the last second of the game. The Latvian club therefore began the tournament without a win.
Quarter scores: 24:27, 16:13, 19:24, 18:15.
