Kazys Maksvytis announces abbreviated Lithuania national team list without Zalgiris players / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: BNS Credit BNS

On November 26, the Lithuanian national team will start the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Qualifiers against Bulgaria at home. As the match approaches, head coach Kazys Maksvytis presented an abbreviated list of 15 national team players.

"We've shortened the list. We have selected the players, we think, are best suited to this situation. Not everything worked out, it is a pity that Vaidas Kariniauskas will not be able to join. We still had secret hopes that he would manage to recover. In this problematic position, it will be necessary to deal with other players," said the specialist.

On November 29, Lithuania will meet the Czech Republic on the road. Mindaugas Kuzminskas of Zenit Saint Petersburg can join the national team for the second qualifying match. The player is currently talking to the club, travel details are being agreed upon.

"We also have good news. I hope that Mindaugas Kuzminskas, who himself expressed a great desire, will be able to join the second contest. It is not fully agreed with the club (Zenit), but the way things are developing, is going in a good direction," spoke Maksvytis.

Zalgiris Kaunas players Lukas Lekavicius and Edgaras Ulanovas, who were included in the extended list, will not help the team in the second qualifying game versus the Czech Republic (November 29). Zalgiris newcomer Regimantas Miniotas will not wear a Lithuanian jersey either in the upcoming window.

"I had to talk to both Zalgiris and the players themselves - we couldn't reach an agreement. We will have to deal without them in this window," the bench boss described the situation.

Full list

Mindaugas Girdziunas - Rytas Vilnius

Arnas Velicka - Napoli Basket

Deividas Gailius - Neptunas Klaipeda

Tomas Dimsa - NutriBullet Treviso

Arnas Butkevicius - Rytas Vilnius

Vytenis Cizauskas - Nevezis-Optibet Kedainiai

Martynas Echodas - Umana Reyer Venice

Mindaugas Kuzminskas - Zenit Sain Petersburg

Gytis Masiulis - Bilbao Basket

Eigirdas Zukauskas - Parma Basket

Margiris Normantas - Rytas Vilnius

Laurynas Birutis - Monbus Obradoiro

Osvaldas Olisevicius - Unahotels Reggio Emilia

Martinas Geben - Brose Bamberg

Eimantas Bendzius - Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari

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