Lithuania happy to stay away from media glare

BARCELONA (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Much of the media glare at the FIBA Basketball World Cup has been on reigning champions the USA and hosts Spain. Lithuanian center Darjus Lavrinovic is not complaining.

"We are happy all the attention is on the Americans and Spain. We can do our job without the additional pressure," said the Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia player as the 2010 FIBA World Championship bronze medallists wound up their practice session at the Palau Sant Jordi on Saturday.

Lithuania won four out of their five games in the Group Phase in Gran Canaria to finish top of Group D as they headed to the Catalan capital.

"I think we are well on track," Lavrinovic said on the way the team has shaped up ahead of their Round of 16 encounter against New Zealand's Tall Blacks on Sunday.

"We have played them before. They are a great team. Very competitive. It will certainly be a big challenge," said the 2.12m center.

"We are not yet in full rhythm. We can't yet say we are playing at our best. But then we always have new players joining in. It does take time for them to get used to the system and start playing at a level we want as a team.

"Individually we are firing on brilliantly. Now it’s time for the team to get cracking together."

FIBA