Coming out the back door at the last EuroBasket last summer, with a pitiful 15th place in the end, Lithuania still has something to smile about with its qualification in its pocket for the World Cup to come at the end of summer. .
If Domantas Sabonis, the All-Star NBA of the Kings, refused the call of the flags this time, just like the veterans Marius Grigonis (Panathinaikos) and Edgaras Ulanovas (Zalgiris), the coach, Kazys Maksvytis, was all likewise showed satisfaction with the shortlist he established and announced today.
Among the big names, we obviously find Jonas Valanciunas, the country’s other NBAer, as well as Euroleague backs Ignaz Brazdeikis (Zalgiris), Rokas Jokubaitis (Barcelona). Behind, there are many young people who will discover the highest level in the world.
“There was a lot of talk about players who couldn’t come this year, but we still managed to put together a solid squad, who can look forward to very high goals”said coach Maksvytis on FIBA.com. “We will have less talent, but we can achieve our goals with discipline and willpower. »
A Group D within reach
Falling into a Group D in the Philippines well within its reach, with Egypt, Mexico and Montenegro, Lithuania will however have to expect any other level by crossing with Group C of Team USA and Greece.
“We will start training camp with 14 players. [Jonas] Valanciunas will join us later, with NBA regulations. [Ignas] Brazdeikis too and we don’t know yet for [Azuolas] Tubelis, if he can join us on July 28 as an NBA player. We will have four other players from the reserve who will come as reinforcements. »
Jonas Valanciunas and Mindaugas Kuzminskas will be the captains of the group. To a lesser extent, the backs Ignas Brazdeikis and Rokas Jokubaitis, and the returning former NBA player and neo-champion of France, Donatas Motiejunas, will also play the role of executives in a team which wants to integrate several young people.
We note in passing that the interior of Arizona currently with the Sixers in Las Vegas, Azuolas Tubelis, therefore does not seem to have passed the “cut”…
Preselection of 15 players
Jonas Valanciunas
Gytis Radzevicius
Rokas Jokubaitis
Tomas Dimsa
Ignas Brazdeikis
Eigirdas Zukauskas
Margiris Normantas
Donatas Motiejunas
Tadas Sedekerskis
Eimantas Bendzius
Donatas Tarolis
Martynas Sajus
Vaidas Kariniauskas
Mindaugas Kuzminskas
Laurynas Birutis
