Lithuania roll out 33-player preliminary squad for February window
KAUNAS (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Lithuania announced an extensive preliminary squad for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers games in Klaipeda.
KAUNAS (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Lithuania announced an extensive preliminary squad for the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers games in Klaipeda.
Head coach Dainius Adomaitis is expected to narrow down the 33-player list early next month, with the trimmed-down selection scheduled to start the mid-season training camp on February 19.
| Lithuania's extended 33-player squad for FIBA World Cup Qualifiers 2019 | |||
| Eimantas Bendzius | Laurynas Birutis | Arnas Butkevicius | Vaidas Cepukaitis |
| Martynas Echodas | Deividas Gailius | Martynas Gecevicius | Rokas Giedraitis |
| Mindaugas Girdziunas | Marius Grigonis | Arturas Gudaitis | Paulius Jankunas |
| Adas Juskevicius | Evaldas Kairys | Mantas Kalnietis | Antanas Kavaliauskas |
| Arnoldas Kulboka | Saulius Kulvietis | Mindaugas Kuzminskas | Ksistof Lavrinovic |
| Lukas Lekavicius | Jonas Maciulis | Gytis Masiulis | Arturas Milaknis |
| Egidijus Mockevicius | Donatas Motiejunas | Zygimantas Janavicius | Martynas Sajus |
| Tadas Sedekerskis | Renaldas Seibutis | Edgaras Ulanovas | Sarunas Vasiliauskas |
| Edgaras Zelionis | |||
The only player missing from the team's first set of games in November is the injured Umana Reyer Venezia forward Gedminas Orelik, who suffered a season-ending knee injury while representing his club.
The player was the team's second-leading scorer in the November window, averaging 10.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists in convincing wins against Kosovo and Poland.
Can't argue with @JValanciunas on that one ☝. #FIBAWC #ThisIsMyHouse@MusuKrepsinis 🇱🇹
— FIBA 🏀 World Cup (@FIBAWC) January 12, 2018
👉 https://t.co/U5MZ9LnRAd pic.twitter.com/shsV6bvQ42
However, coach Adomaitis will not have a lack of replacement options, with players like Mantas Kalnietis, Lukas Lekavicius, Jonas Maciulis, Paulius Jankunas, Edgaras Ulanovas, Mindaugas Kuzminskas and Arturas Gudaitis included on the list this time around.
Lithuania began their FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 campaign by defeating Kosovo 99-61 in Prishtina before inscribing a 75-55 win over Poland in front of a packed Svyturio Arena in Klaipeda.
In the February window, the Group C leaders will entertain the home fans in Klaipeda once again, welcoming Hungary on February 23 before holding the return leg against Kosovo on February 26.
FIBA