Extended list of Lithuania national team candidates includes three Zalgiris players / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: zalgiris.lt Credit zalgiris.lt

Just under a month before the first match in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 European Qualifiers, head coach Kazys Maksvytis presented an extended list of the Lithuanian men's basketball team, which includes 32 basketball players.

3-pointers this season

33%7,7Points made:7,7Accuracy:33,1%Place in standings:12Record max:9Record min:6Most made 3FGs:Janis StrelnieksTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

"The list is long because we did not want to miss a single player that could suit the Lithuanian national team. Another thing is that there is still time to make an abbreviated list.

We will take into account the shape of the players, perhaps injury will stop someone. Now we have made the list bigger, I think that there was no hard work here, the more difficult task will be to select a shorter list or even the final twelve," commented Maksvytis.

Edgaras Ulanovas, Lukas Lekavicius, and Marek Blazevic, who represent Zalgiris Kaunas, are also included in the extended list of the Lithuanian men's national team. The coaching staff expects to have them in their disposition against the Czech Republic (second match of the window).

Zalgiris Kaunas will face FC Barcelona on November 26 (on the same day, the Lithuanian national team will start the European Qualifiers versus Bulgaria), but the next upcoming match will be waiting for Kaunas club only on December 2. They will meet Bitci Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz at home.

"We have added them (Zalgiris players) to the extended list. As head coach, I would like to see them at least in the second match because the schedule does not collide.

However, now the Zalgiris situation is not the easiest. We included only EuroLeague players competing in Lithuania because it is more possible to coordinate it," said Kazys Maksvytis.

Lithuanian national team veteran and captain Mantas Kalnietis did not appear on the extended list.

"So far, this has been our (coaches') decision. This list is formed for the first window," Maksvytis described the situation.

On November 26, Lithuania will play at home against Bulgaria, and on November 29, Lithuania will meet the Czech Republic on the road.

All candidates

Arnas Butkevicius - Rytas Vilnius

Arnas Velicka - Napoli Basket

Deividas Gailius - Neptunas Klaipeda

Donatas Tarolis - Afyon Belediye

Dovis Bickauskis - CSM Oradea

Dovydas Giedraitis - Lietkabelis Panevezys

Edgaras Ulanovas - Zalgiris Kaunas

Eigirdas Zukauskas - Parma Basket

Eimantas Bendzius - Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari

Gytis Masiulis - Bilbao Basket

Gytis Radzevicius - Rytas Vilnius

Ignas Sargiunas - Labas GAS Prienai

Kristupas Zemaitis - Lietkabelis Panevezys

Laurynas Beliauskas - Monbus Obradoiro

Laurynas Birutis - Monbus Obradoiro

Lukas Lekavicius - Zalgiris Kaunas

Marek Blazevic - Zalgiris Kaunas

Margiris Normantas - Rytas Vilnius

Martinas Geben - Brose Bamberg

Martynas Echodas - Umana Reyer Venice

Martynas Sajus - Medi Bayreuth

Matas Jogela - Neptunas Klaipeda

Mindaugas Girdziunas - Rytas Vilnius

Osvaldas Olisevicius - Unahotels Reggio Emilia

Paulius Valinskas - Okapi Aalst

Regimantas Miniotas - Bilbao Basket

Sarunas Vasiliauskas - CSO Voluntari

Tomas Dimsa - NutriBullet Treviso

Vaidas Kariniauskas - Rytas Vilnius

Vytenis Cizauskas - Nevezis-Optibet

Zygimantas Janavicius - Neptunas Klaipeda

Zygimantas Skucas - Pieno Zvaigzdes Pasvalys

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