Estonia launch World Cup Pre-Qualifiers preparations
TALLINN (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Pre-Qualifiers) - The majority of players that have competed for Estonia the past two years will be with the national squad this summer
TALLINN (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Pre-Qualifiers) - The majority of players that have competed for Estonia the past two years will be with the national squad this summer as it gets ready for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Pre-Qualifiers.
The Baltic side finished runners-up in their group last year to Poland and came up short of making it to a second straight FIBA EuroBasket.
| Estonia 18-man squad ahead of World Cup European Pre-Qualifiers | ||||
| Gregor Arbet | Timo Eichfuss | Reinar Hallik | Kregor Hermet | Janari Joesaar |
| Kristjan Kangur | Erik Keedus | Kristjan Kitsing | Tanel Kurbas | Rait-Riivo Laane |
| Sten Olmre | Martin Paasoja | Jaan Puidet | Toomas Raadik | Sten Sokk |
| Janar Talts | Rain Veideman | Siim-Sander Vene | ||
Coach Tiit Sokk will not have Indrek Kajupank, the power forward who averaged 19.6 minutes per contest and appeared in all six of the team's FIBA EuroBasket 2017 qualifying games. The 28-year-old required a knee operation after getting hurt while on national team duty last summer.
"We wish him a good recovery, we are grateful, and we expect him back," Estonian Basketball Federation secretary general Keio Kuhi said.
Familiar faces among the 18-man squad are the top five scorers from the team's FIBA EuroBasket 2015 campaign. They are Gregor Arbet, Janar Talts, Rain Veideman, Siim-Sander Vene and Kristjan Kangur.
Their FIBA EuroBasket 2015 performance suggests that Estonia are always dangerous. While the team did not advance from the Group Phase, it did play very well in three of its games and even beat Ukraine.
Sokk's side will play their first qualifier at MKD on August 5 and then host Kosovo on August 9. Next will be a home game against MKD on August 16 and Estonia will wrap up their campaign at Kosovo three days later.
Preparations get underway on Tuesday.
FIBA