LTU – Jonas in the mix as NT prepares for EuroBasket

DRUSKININKAI (EuroBasket 2011) – Lithuania have launched their preparations for the EuroBasket in Druskininkai and the country’s hottest name is battling for a place in the squad.

Jonas Valanciunas, the MVP of the FIBA U19 World Championship in Latvia, is the youngest of the 20 players in the preliminary group.

Lithuania coach Kestutis Kemzura believes that despite the quick return to the court after the success in Riga, where Valanciunas led the country to the gold medal, the 2.10m center will be able to cope.

"Take into account the fact that he only had one week to recover after the World Cup," Kemzura said.

"Jonas Valanciunas has already reached a certain peak athletic form, played a lot of games.

"After this exercise at a young age, he is recovering quickly and is with the team but we're trying not to put too much on him."

Valanciunas turned 19 on May 5.

He averaged 23 points and 13.9 rebounds per game at the U19 FIBA World Championship.

A player at the other end of the age spectrum, 35-year-old point guard Sarunas Jasikevicius, will soon be with Kemzura’s team.

Jasikevicius, the EuroBasket 2003 MVP, hasn't played for Lithuania since the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

He was given additional time off before joining the team.

"He only asked for some time to sort some personal and family matters," Kemzura said.

Veteran power forward/center Darius Songaila, who made his senior team debut at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney but hasn't featured for Lithuania since EuroBasket 2007 in Spain, is in the squad.

Injuries have knocked Linas Kleiza, a member of last year's all-tournament team at the FIBA World Championship, and Jonas Maciulius out this summer.

Kemzura's team will play in Group A of the EuroBasket against Spain, Turkey, Great Britain, Poland and one of the two teams - Finland, Hungary or Portugal - that comes through the Additional Qualifying Round.

Last year, Lithuania needed a wild card to compete at the FIBA World Championship in Turkey but made the most of it and won the bronze medal.

If they reach the Final of the EuroBasket, Lithuania will earn a trip to the London Games.

Should they finish third, fourth, fifth or sixth, the Lithuanians will book a place in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Lithuania preliminary squad: Lithuania preliminary squad: Mantas Kalnietis, Sarunas Jasikevicius, Tomas Delininkaitis, Martynas Pocius, Rimantas Kaukenas, Martynas Gecevicius, Renaldas Seibutis, Deividad Gailius, Simas Jasaitis, Arturas Jomantas, Mindaugas Kuzminskas, Mindaugas Lukauskis, Paulius Jankunas, Darius Songaila, Donatas Motiejunas, Ksistof Lavrinovic, Darjus Lavrinovic, Robertas Javtokas, Marijonas Petravicius and Jonas Valanciunas.

FIBA