LTU - Kalnietis handling the point for Lithuania

LJUBLJANA (EuroBasket/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - One of the keys to success in international basketball is a strong point guard play. Mantas Kalnietis may not be a pure point guard but his teammates and coach believe he's doing a solid enough job at EuroBasket 2013.

Heading into their last second round game against Ukraine, Kalnietis and Lithuania have already qualified for the Quarter-Finals.

Winning Sunday's contest would secure first place in Group E. Then one more victory would likely secure Lietuva a spot at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

All this with a player who has been scrutinized for not being a point guard.

"I know that everyone is talking about if I am a one (point guard) or two (shooting guard). For me, it doesn't matter. I like most to play the position one," said Kalnietis, who is playing his sixth summer for Lithuania's senior national team.

The 27-year-old has made some strides over that stretch thanks to working with legendary point guard Sarunas Jasikevicius.

"You can take a lot of experience from him. He was one of the best point guards in 10 years in Europe. I still communicate with him during this championship," said Kalnietis, who is playing in his third EuroBasket while having also lined up for Lithuania at the last two World Championships and the 2012 Olympics.

Kalnietis also benefitted from playing last season at Russian club Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar with Greek point guard Nick Calathes.

"I was very happy to have him with Krasnodar because Nick is like a point guard, especially when we were playing together. I like to have two point guards on the court," said Kalnietis, who was playing his first professional season away from Lithuanian club Zalgiris Kaunas.

In Slovenia, Kalnietis ranks third among all players in assists with 5.7 per game with a respectable 2.4 assist-to-turnover ratio.

"The most important thing is playing a lot of minutes and feeling confidence. I have freedom. We are playing a lot of pick-and-rolls. And I can play the game which I like - fast basketball," he explained.

And his teammates are happy with Kalnietis' play.

"Kalnietis is more of a two position, bug he fights with heart. We have young fellows who didn't make the national team. I think next year we're going to be a way better team. Kalnietis is helping us a lot," said veteran center Robertas Javtokas.

"Right now without him it would be impossible to play. But he's more of a two than a one. As long as it works for us to win, no problem."

Linas Kleiza gave his backing to the 1.95m guard.

"He’s doing a good job," he said of Kalnietis.

"He's doing the best he can. It's hard for us to ask him to be a real point guard. But he's doing a good job passing the ball and running a team and scoring.

"He's just trying to find a balance, and he’s doing a good job."

Coach Kazlauskas has also been satisfied with Kalnietis’s play.

"Until now he has played okay. Some times there are good things, sometimes bad. If you play the point guard position, it's important about how the team plays," said the coach.

Regardless of anyone's opinion, Kalnietis is the key to Lithuania's chances at EuroBasket 2013 - just like any point guard.

For full and in-depth coverage of EuroBasket 2013, go to the official website http://www.eurobasket2013.org.

FIBA