KLAIPEDA (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - There is not a more deserving candidate to play for Lithuania in the February World Cup Qualifiers than Edgaras Zelionis of Neptunas Klaipeda.

In a land where basketball is number one, the 28-year-old has been racking up good individual numbers this season in both the LKL and the Basketball Champions League, yet far from being a player that is worried about statistics, Zelionis only cares about doing things that help his team win games.

The unheralded Zelionis is finally standing out in his country.

He spoke to FIBA.basketball after being included in Lithuania's 33-player list ahead of its games against Hungary on February 23 and Kosovo on February 26. Both of those Qualifiers, as the Baltic side's second one was against Poland on November 26, will be played in Klaipeda.

What were your thoughts when coach Dainius Adomatis named you in the list of 33?
I was extremely pleased. I believe that I will join the national team and make myself useful. I'll do my best to help the team win.

If Adomaitis were to have you on the final Lithuania roster to play Hungary and Kosovo, how important would that be for you in your career?
It's an honor for each player to represent his country on an international level. And I am not an exception. To my mind, it will be a new turn in my career and, of course, present new prospects.

You wouldn't have to travel to meet up with the team since the games are in Klaipeda. There is clearly a real passion for the sport in that city, judging from how the people support Neptunas Klaipeda.
It's terrific that so many people support us. I'd like to thank them very much that, whatever happens to the team, even during difficult periods for the team, they did not turn away and believed in us.

One of those difficult periods came in the past several weeks when the club had to part with Arnas Butkevicius, Mindaugas Girdziunis and Juan Palacios for financial reasons. Neptunas looked as if it might go down like a sinking ship yet it remained afloat and stayed in contention for a spot in the Basketball Champions League Play-Offs.
That wasn't an easy period for the team but we have always supported each other and we became even more united. Everybody is striving to become a leader. But there are five players on the court and they can only then come to victory when all the players are one whole. And thus, everyone in the team becomes a leader.

What's been your favorite moment of the season?
My favorite moment of the season has always been when we win!

FIBA