Kazys Maksvytis retakes Lithuanian NT helm for FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers / News - Basketnews.com

Following parting ways with Zalgiris Kaunas, Kazys Maksvytis steps in as the head coach of the Lithuanian national team for the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers, marking a seamless transition after Giedrius Zibenas, originally appointed head coach.

Credit: Erikas Ovčarenko/BNS Credit Erikas Ovčarenko/BNS

Kazys Maksvytis, who recently parted ways with Zalgiris Kaunas by mutual agreement, is set to dive into coaching duties without much rest.

Lithuanian Basketball Federation president Vydas Gedvilas revealed in a press conference on Friday that Maksvytis will take charge of the Lithuanian national team during the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers.

Originally, Giedrius Zibenas, the specialist from Vilnius Rytas, was appointed as the head coach for the EuroBasket Qualifiers in December of the previous year. However, the situation shifted following Maksvytis' departure from Zalgiris.

"While Kazys was working in the EuroLeague, we agreed that we take it very simply when the circumstances suddenly change," Zibenas said. "My position in the national team is assistant, and I am ready for any position. If it is necessary to be the first or fourth assistant, I will be. Here is the national team, it is above everything, there can be no ego here.

"With Maksvytis now available, he can focus entirely on coaching and reaching out to players.At the end of the day, it's continuity. I think it's more acceptable to the players as well."

FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers are scheduled to start from February 19 to 27. In Group H, Lithuania will face North Macedonia, Poland, and Estonia.

Lithuania will host Poland on February 23 (Friday), followed by an away game against Estonia on February 26 (Monday) in the upcoming window.

FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers will be played across three windows on February 19-27, 2024, November 18-26, 2024, and February 17-25, 2025, with two games played by each team in every window.

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