Arlauskas, Sirvydis, Jokubaitis among big guns for Lithuania at U19 camp
VILNIUS (Lithuania) - Lithuania will have their big guns available as they prepare for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2019 with Martynas Arlauskas, Rokas Jokubaitis and Deividas Sirvydis included in the team's 24-man preliminary roster for training camp.
The star trio will play in a major role in Lithuania's chances of competing for a medal at the U19 World Cup from June 29-July 7 in Heraklion, where Gediminas Petrauskas' team will face New Zealand, Senegal and the United States in Group A.
| Lithuania's preliminary roster for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2019 | |||
| Arnas Adomavicius | Martynas Arlauskas | Karolis Babusis | Tomas Balciunas |
| Giedrius Bergaudas | Dovydas Giedraitis | Simas Jarumbauskas | Rokas Jokubaitis |
| Nedas Kancleris | Tomas Kuzminskas | Klaidas Metrikis | Nojus Mineikis |
| Gediminas Mokseckas | Ginas Mulevicius | Jonas Paukste | Petras Piekus |
| Martynas Pocevicius | Justinas Ramanauskas | Deividas Sirvydas | Gertautas Urbonavicius |
| Matas Vaitkus | Erikas Venskus | Domantas Vilys | Arminas Zagelis |
"We got the strongest possible opponent in the United States. I think the good thing about it is that we will be able to avoid them in the Quarter-Finals. In general, I think this Playoffs format is good, as everyone will have a chance," Petrauskas said. "We got a tough group and we will have to go out there and play against everyone, but it will United States who will be labeled favorites."
Lithuania's 24-man pool includes 10 players who finished second at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2016 and 10 players who were fifth last summer at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2018, where Lithuania qualified for their eighth appearance in the U19 global showcase. The main name missing is Sarunas Valunta, who was injured.
Jokubaitis and Sirvydis were on both U16 and U18 teams while Jokubaitis as well as Dovydas Giedraitis both played at the FIBA U19 World Cup 2017 in Cairo. Arlauskas, who will be playing for Gonzaga University in the United States next season, was on the U16 team but missed the U18 European Championship last summer with a stress fracture in his foot.
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Petrauskas will have 18 of the 24 players for the first training camp in Klaipeda starting on May 28. After a week, the team will move their camp to Druskininkai with the final part of the preparations to take place in Kaunas. Lithuania, who won the U19 title in 2011, finished second in 2003 and were third in 2013, have at least five warm-up games scheduled as they will face Australia, China, Latvia and Russia in the build-up to the event.
FIBA
