Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Karlis Silins Plays for Latvian National Team at Baltic Way Cup
7/27/2020 4:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BOCA RATON, Fla. - Florida Atlantic University men's basketball player Karlis Silins represented his home country of Latvia in the Baltic Way Cup over the weekend. Lithuania and Estonia also took part in the event, which was held in Estonia as a part of its celebration marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of its national team.
The tournament was named after the Baltic Way, which was a peaceful political demonstration that took place on Aug. 23, 1989, with around two million people joining hands to form a human chain through the three nations.
The selection process began with two weeks of practices with the Latvian select team, a group of roughly college-aged players who scrimmage with the National Team. While Silins thought he played well, he didn't find out that he had moved on until the final day of practice.
"I was leaving the gym after the last practice, and one of the National Team managers came up to me and told me that I had to show up Monday,' Silins recalled. I said 'show up for what,' he said. 'you're going to be practicing with the National Team.' It was a great, but humbling feeling."
Two more weeks of practice followed, as the coaching staff had to narrow the field of 15 players down to the 12 that would make up the tournament roster.
"It was definitely a great feeling when I found out that I was going to the tournament," said Silins. "Representing (your) country is one of the biggest honors an athlete can have."
Silins did earn a spot on the final squad, but he realizes that the margin for error was slim.
"It wasn't like there were two or three guys that clearly didn't belong there. Everyone was so evenly matched."
As for the tournament itself, fan attendance was limited due to COVID-19, but the ones that were allowed in made their presence known.
"When we played Lithuania, Lithuanian fans always show up. There were five guys that showed up with the big drums, and (Latvian fans) weren't far behind. We had a couple of drums too and some fans screaming their lungs out so the arena sounded full. It was a great atmosphere," Silins noted. "Obviously, whenever Estonia played, they had a bunch of people show up, so it was great to be in that environment and on that stage."
Silins saw action in both games, his best game coming against Lithuania, when he had seven points, two rebounds and a blocked shot in 12 minutes of action. After the event concluded, the coaching staff had some encouraging words for the group.
"(The head coach) told the whole team 'keep your head up, everybody played really hard.' It was a young national team, so I think we did what the coaching staff expected of us."
The National Team will continue to practice through Aug. 7, allowing Silins more time with his fellow countrymen before his to return to FAU. While COVID-19 has the current international competition schedule in turmoil, Silins is focusing on the positives.
"(I'm happy) I had the chance to get to know the (National Team) coaches and go up against some big time players. It was a great feeling. Hopefully, later on, I'll be invited back."
The tournament was named after the Baltic Way, which was a peaceful political demonstration that took place on Aug. 23, 1989, with around two million people joining hands to form a human chain through the three nations.
The selection process began with two weeks of practices with the Latvian select team, a group of roughly college-aged players who scrimmage with the National Team. While Silins thought he played well, he didn't find out that he had moved on until the final day of practice.
"I was leaving the gym after the last practice, and one of the National Team managers came up to me and told me that I had to show up Monday,' Silins recalled. I said 'show up for what,' he said. 'you're going to be practicing with the National Team.' It was a great, but humbling feeling."
Two more weeks of practice followed, as the coaching staff had to narrow the field of 15 players down to the 12 that would make up the tournament roster.
"It was definitely a great feeling when I found out that I was going to the tournament," said Silins. "Representing (your) country is one of the biggest honors an athlete can have."
Silins did earn a spot on the final squad, but he realizes that the margin for error was slim.
"It wasn't like there were two or three guys that clearly didn't belong there. Everyone was so evenly matched."
As for the tournament itself, fan attendance was limited due to COVID-19, but the ones that were allowed in made their presence known.
"When we played Lithuania, Lithuanian fans always show up. There were five guys that showed up with the big drums, and (Latvian fans) weren't far behind. We had a couple of drums too and some fans screaming their lungs out so the arena sounded full. It was a great atmosphere," Silins noted. "Obviously, whenever Estonia played, they had a bunch of people show up, so it was great to be in that environment and on that stage."
Silins saw action in both games, his best game coming against Lithuania, when he had seven points, two rebounds and a blocked shot in 12 minutes of action. After the event concluded, the coaching staff had some encouraging words for the group.
"(The head coach) told the whole team 'keep your head up, everybody played really hard.' It was a young national team, so I think we did what the coaching staff expected of us."
The National Team will continue to practice through Aug. 7, allowing Silins more time with his fellow countrymen before his to return to FAU. While COVID-19 has the current international competition schedule in turmoil, Silins is focusing on the positives.
"(I'm happy) I had the chance to get to know the (National Team) coaches and go up against some big time players. It was a great feeling. Hopefully, later on, I'll be invited back."
Players Mentioned
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