BAMBERG (FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2017) - Lithuania and Germany will be heading into the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2017 as podium contenders. The two European teams will also face off in the group stage in a game that will have special meaning for Lithuanian star shooter Arnoldas Kulboka.

The showdown with Germany is actually Lithuania’s first game in Cairo on 1 July - a game that could decide supremacy in Group B, which also includes hosts Egypt and Puerto Rico.

"I think we cannot underestimate any team but most likely the most important game will be against Germany," Kulboka said.

Despite sounding very diplomatic, the Germany vs Lithuania contest will be a battle. The two countries squared off in the Semi-Finals of the FIBA U18 European Championship 2016 in December with Lithuania winning 69-62 to keep Germany from reaching their first-ever U18 continental title game.

Of course (playing against Germany) means a lot to me, to play against my teammates and also people that I see often. But on the court I will just concentrate and do my job - without thinking about it." - Kulboka

The Lithuanians ended up losing to France in the final while Germany fell to Italy to drop to fourth place.

"This game will be very important and interesting. It would be nice to get the same win like we did at the (FIBA U18) European Championship," said Kulboka, who collected 24 points, nine rebounds and two assists in that game.

"Of course they want get some revenge after that Semi-Final, but this game will mean a lot to us also. So I think there will be a nice fight."

The match-up with Germany will have extra meaning for Kulboka also because he is spending his second season playing in Germany, playing for the second team of reigning champions Brose Bamberg. He often faces players who will be playing for Germany in Cairo and even has German 1998-born talent Louis Olinde on his team.

"Of course this means a lot to me, to play against my teammates and also people that I see often. But on the court I will just concentrate and do my job - without thinking about it," said Kulboka, who averaged 15.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals at the U18 tournament.

The Marijampoles native also will be heading to Cairo knowing that the Lithuanian fans back home will have high expectations for the team as it returns to the U19 stage after missing the tournament in 2015.

"It's always a big achievement to play in (FIBA U19 Basketball) World Cup and compete against the best teams in the world. And of course it is very important for a basketball country like Lithuania," Kulboka said.

The Lithuanians were very successful in the two U19 tournaments before that, taking the title in 2011 with Jonas Valanciunas winning the MVP and then the team grabbed third place at Prague 2013.

"We'll try to do our best, and I think everyone expects a lot from us because we were second in Europe this winter," Kulboka added.

But the small forward also believes that he and his teammates have the goods to compete in Cairo.

"I think we are good as a team. We have many different players who can have a good game at any time, so this helps us a lot," he said.

And when asked what the Lithuanians need to do to be successful in Cairo, Kulboka said: "I think we should keep playing the same basketball like we did this winter and hopefully everything goes good."

And hopefully another victory over Germany for Lithuanian fans.

FIBA