FIN - Finns announce preliminary squad, special game to mark anniversary

HELSINKI (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - The Finnish Basketball Association and its national team have their 75th anniversary this year.

To mark the occasion, the Finns will square off against Lithuania in a warm-up game for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Helsinki on 4 August.

Both sides will be at the World Cup, with the Wolfpack (Finland) squaring off against the defending champions USA, Turkey, Ukraine, New Zealand and the Dominican Republic in Group C and Lithuania meeting Slovenia, Australia, Korea, Angola and Mexico in Group D.

"The Finnish men's basketball team played the first Test match in its history in Lithuania at the European Championship in 1939," said Finland national team coach Henrik Dettmann.

"From an historical point of view, it is right that we celebrate the 75th anniversary by meeting Lithuania.

"Lithuania has for many years been among the brightest and best when it comes to style of play, training, and exercise frequency and quality."

Dettmann says that Lithuania, who finished runners-up last year to France at the EuroBasket in Slovenia, will be a "perfect yardstick" for the Finns.

A look back at the FIBA.com archive shows that Finnish basketball has developed quite a lot.

When the sides met in 1939, Lithuania won the encounter, 112-9.

Finland have qualified for the last two EuroBaskets and advanced from the opening round each time.

The Finns, meanwhile, have announced a 26-strong preliminary squad for this summer.

Finland preliminary squad for FIBA Baskeball World Cup: Roope Ahonen, Joonas Caven, Samuel Haanpaa, Shawn Huff, Antti Kanervo, Ville Kaunisto, Mikko Koivisto, Petteri Koponen, Tuukka Kotti, Gerald Lee Jr, Antero Lehto, Carl Lindbom, Oskar Michelsen, Alex Murphy, Erik Murphy, Kiummo Muurinen, Vesa Makalainen, Hanno Mottola, Antto Nikkarinen, Antti Nikkila, Matti Nuutinen, Anton Odabasi, Julius Rajala, Teemu Rannikko, Sasu Salin and Samuli Vanttaja.

FIBA