Lithuania announces extended list of national team for battles over BiH / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: BNS Credit BNS

The Lithuanian national team will meet Bosnia and Herzegovina twice in the upcoming window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers.

3-pointers this season

36%8,5Points made:8,5Accuracy:36,2%Place in standings:2Record max:11Record min:6Most made 3FGs:Osvaldas OlisevičiusTeamFIBA WC QStatisticsSchedule

The Lithuanian NT head coach Kazys Maksvytis presented an extended list of 24 basketball players, who will represent the Lithuanian jersey on the 24th and 27th of February.

"I think a strong opponent is awaiting us. Our situation is somewhat alleviated by the fact that we got an opportunity to get to know each other in the first camp.

On the other hand, the opponent is really strong, moreover, the first match is on the road. The Bosnians have Dzanan Musa, who has returned from the NBA and has become the MVP in the latest ACB round. It will not be easy, but we are the Lithuanian national team and we will fight for victory," commented Maksvytis.

Vaidas Kariniauskas, who did not compete in the first qualifying window due to injury, should give positive momentum to the backcourt line of the Lithuanian NT.

"He had to be in the roster in the previous window but was not available due to the setback. I think he will be a good reinforcement for us: the point guard is the coach on the court," said the Lithuanian specialist.

However, Lithuanians will have some losses. Eigirdas Zukauskas probably will not be present due to a back injury, while Eimantas Bendzius has tested positive for COVID-19. Besides that, Zenit Saint Petersburg assured that they will not release Mindaugas Kuzminskas.

Despite the losses, there are hopes for Zalgiris Kaunas forward Regimantas Miniotas to join the national team.

"We will need to compensate the misses of Zukauskas and Bendzius. Zenit told us that they would not release Kuzminkas, but we included him in the list, just in case.

Conversations about Miniotas are taking place with Zalgiris, because we see that his role in the team has slightly decreased after the return of other big men. We hope that Zalgiris will release him," Maksvytis shared his thoughts.

Bosnia and Herzegovina won the first two battles in the group, defeating the Czech Republic (97-90) and Bulgaria (85-75).

Lithuania won two games as well, overcoming the same teams. Kazys Maksvytis' squad eased past Bulgaria 89-69 and edged out the Czech Republic 74-66.

All candidates

Arnas Butkevicius - Rytas Vilnius

Arnas Velicka - Napoli Basket

Deividas Gailius - Neptunas Klaipeda

Donatas Tarolis - Podgorica Buducnost

Dovis Bickauskis - CSM Oradea

Dovydas Giedraitis - Lietkabelis Panevezys

Eigirdas Zukauskas - Parma Basket

Eimantas Bendzius - Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari

Gytis Masiulis - Bilbao Basket

Gytis Radzevicius - Rytas Vilnius

Kristupas Zemaitis - Lietkabelis Panevezys

Laurynas Birutis - Monbus Obradoiro

Lukas Uleckas - Rytas Vilnius

Margiris Normantas - Rytas Vilnius

Martinas Geben - Brose Bamberg

Martynas Echodas - Umana Reyer Venice

Martynas Sajus - Medi Bayreuth

Mindaugas Girdziunas - Rytas Vilnius

Mindaugas Kuzminskas - Zenit Saint Petersburg

Osvaldas Olisevicius - Unahotels Reggio Emilia

Regimantas Miniotas - Zalgiris Kaunas

Tomas Dimsa - NutriBullet Treviso

Vaidas Kariniauskas - Rytas Vilnius

Vytenis Cizauskas - Nevezis-Optibet Kedainiai

Thank you for being with us! Subscribe to BN+ and browse ad-free.