Lithuania riding on roster's resilience

BARCELONA (FIBA Basketball World Cup) – Lithuania were almost written off when they lost point guard Mantas Kalnietis to injury just days before the start of the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

But the Baltic team has kept itself riding high relying on the resilience of the remaining players on the roster in the quest of a second successive medal at FIBA's flagship event.

Coach Jonas Kazlauskas acknowledged as much when praising the current roster.

"When we lost Kalnietis, I was thinking that would be a huge problem. He's everything for this team. I'm very happy how we're playing without him," he said after his beat Turkey, to set up a second successive Semi-Final clash against the USA in the tournament.

"I'm very proud of my players despite all the problems we had at the beginning. We did really a great job."

Kazlauskas has experience of beating the USA, as he coached the Lithuanian team that defeated the Americans 84-82 in the Preliminary Round of the 1998 FIBA World Championship.

"We are playing without a point guard. We are using only shooting guards. But we are shooting well," he pointed out.

Much of Lithuanian success has depended upon the stellar showing of their star center Jonas Valanciunas. The Toronto Raptors big man is currently averaging 12.9 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.

"He has matured into a very good player. He takes a lot of responsibilities," Kazlauskas said of the 22-year-old.

"This is what we expect from him. And we want him continue doing this," he added.

Veteran Ksistof Lavrinovic seconds that.

"We'll need him (Valanciunas) at his best for us to have any chance (against the USA). He's improving with every game and we hope he can continue to get better," he said.

FIBA