Lithuania announce 15-strong squad for European Qualifiers against Croatia, Netherlands

VILNIUS (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Lithuania coach Dainius Adomatis has announced the 15-player squad for what he anticipates will be the toughest window so far for the Baltic giants in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers.

The team won all six of its games in the First Round. Among the players that will square off against a star-laden Croatia on September 14 in Osijek and then host three days later an experienced Netherlands side are veterans Mantas Kalnietis, Renaldas Seibutis and Mindaugas Kuzminskas. Other members of the squad that have big-tournament experience under their belts are Lukas Lekavicius, Marius Grigonis, Adas Juskevicius, Edgaras Ulanovas and Arturas Gudaitis.

There is also a player that has received big minutes in the European Qualifiers and made the most of them in sharpshooting forward Eimantas Bendzius.

Croatia have won their last three European Qualifiers and claimed an impressive road triumph in the third window at previously unbeaten Italy with Bojan Bogdanovic and Dario Saric leading the way. Ivica Zubac, like fellow NBA players Bogdanovic and Saric, made his bow for Croatia in the third window and shone as well.

“THEY (CROATIA) HAVE MAXIMIZED THE PLAYERS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEIR SITUATION. IT WILL BE AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT GAME AGAINST THEM.”- Adomaitis

Krunoslav Simon, one of their most important veterans and a Rio Olympian, is also in the Croatia squad.

Adomaitis expects the game to be extremely difficult and knows the Croatians will be pulling out all the stops since they begin the Second Round with a 3-3 record.

"They will have four NBA players, who are a really great force with Krunoslav Simon," he said to the official Lithuanian Basketball Federation website. "They have maximized their players because they know their situation. It will be an extremely difficult game against them on the road.

Bendzius has been a solid performer for Lithuania in the European Qualifiers

"The Netherlands have a team that has played together for a long time. The same system, the same coach... That makes it easier for them them to play without the need of spending too much time on chemistry."

Two important players that made their bows in the European Qualifiers in the third window for Lithuania, Domas Sabonis and Jonas Valanciunas, are not in the squad for the fourth window.

Lithuania's players and coaches will gather in Vilnius on September 7 to begin training. After a couple of days, the Lithuanian capital will host a friendly game against Latvia, who are also preparing for the European Qualifiers.

FIBA