LTU - Delininkaitis appreciates the call

KAUNAS (EuroBasket/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - All professional basketball players have highs and lows in their careers.

Tomas Delininkaitis knows that only too well.

A Lithuanian who played for his senior national side for the first time at the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan, Delininkaitis looks back at that summer as one of the greatest in his life.

"My biggest dream came true in 2006 when I got into the man 12," he said.

The 1.90m guard experienced the frustration of 2009 when the Baltic side came up short of the Quarter-Finals of the EuroBasket.

Yet one year later at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey, Delininkaitis helped Lithuania make the most of their wild card.

Kestutis Kemzura's side captured the bronze medal.

Following EuroBasket 2011, when Lithuania suffered a shock upset at the hands of The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (MKD) in Kaunas, Delininkaitis travelled with his national side to Caracas, Venezuela, to compete at the 2012 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament and helped the team claim one of three spots for the London Games.

Delininkaitis and Deividas Dulkys were then removed from the side to make way for Simas Jasaitis and Renaldas Seibutis, players that hadn't been able to play in Venezuela because of injuries.

The 31-year-old is now fighting for a spot in team that will play at the EuroBasket in Slovenia.

"I was very happy to receive the invitation," said Delininkaitis.

"I didn't expect it. I was expecting this summer that more young players would be invited.

"Nevertheless, I was called and I'm glad."

If he does make the final 12-man roster, Delininkaitis will help Lithuania take on Latvia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and MKD in Group B of the EuroBasket.

The top six sides in the competition will qualify for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

If Spain are in the top six, then the top seven teams will clinch places in next year's tournament.

FIBA