KLAIPEDA (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - The dust has long since settled on Lithuania's terrific start in their FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers campaign and one lesson can be drawn.

This Baltic country is still rich in talent. The evidence was on full display in their 99-61 victory at Kosovo on November 24 and 75-55 triumph over Poland in Klaipeda two days later.

The game that had nearly everyone buzzing in Lithuania was the one against Poland. Much was made of Arnas Butkevicius and Mindaugas Girdziunas wearing the national team jersey in front of their home crowd, players who at the time were also competing for the city's Basketball Champions League side Neptunas.

"EVERYONE WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS AS BEING THE SECOND OR THIRD NATIONAL TEAM OF LITHUANIA. BUT WE SHOWED EVERYBODY WE ARE THE FIRST AND WITH BOTH GAMES, WE JUST SHOWED EVERYBODY WE ARE STRONG AND WE HAVE AMBITIONS" Eimantas BendziusEimantas Bendzius

But there was another Klaipeda-born player who donned the Lithuania shirt in front of his family, friends and compatriots.

It was Spain-based Eimantas Bendzius, a player on the books of Monbus Obradoiro. He sure made the most of the opportunity.

The 27-year-old forward led the team with 18 points against the Poles.

This came after Bendzius did not get much of a chance to show what he could do at FIBA EuroBasket 2017, where he played in just two of Lithuania's six games and logged a total of 16 minutes.

Bendzius, who also had 11 points in the win at Kosovo, felt as if he and his Lithuania teammates proved a point in the November qualifiers. 

"Everyone was talking about this as being the second or third national team of Lithuania," he said. "But we showed everybody we are the first and with both games, we just showed everybody we are strong and we have ambitions."

Bendzius was outstanding, whether it was providing offense or diving on the floor for loose balls.

The Lithuania fans that packed Klaipeda's 6,200-capacity Svyturio Arena were as passionate and supportive as always.

FIBA's New Competition System sets out to offer talented players the opportunity to prove their worth, while also bringing the national team to the fans in different arenas across the country throughout the year and not just in the summer. It was most certainly mission accomplished on both counts for Lithuania in November.

"It was an unbelievable atmosphere," said Lithuania coach Dainius Adomaitis. "Everyone really enjoyed the game - the fans, the players, everybody."

And the play-caller liked being able to offer the majority of his players meaningful minutes.

"We had a good rotation," Adomaitis said. "That's why we played the third and fourth quarter with good tempo."

FIBA