LTU – Kemzura finalizes squad for Turkey

VILNIUS (2010 FIBA World Championship) – Kestutis Kemzura has the team he believes has the best chance of progressing from Group D at the FIBA World Championship and it doesn’t include 2008 Olympian Mindaugas Lukauskis.

The 31-year-old shooting guard/small forward, who had some very bright moments in Beijing, was let go along with 27-year-old guard Arvydas Eitutavicius.

Two of the standout performers in Lithuania’s top flight in 2009-10, Zalgiris Kaunas big man Tadas Klimavicius and Lietuvos Rytas scoring machine Martynas Gecevicius, are included along with one of the MVP of the country’s gold-medal run at the U21 FIBA World Championship in Argentina five years ago, Renaldas Seibutis.

Martynas Pocius, who once played for USA coach Mike Krzyzewski at Duke University, is also in the Lithuania squad and ready to make his debut at senior level in a big competition.

Kemzura spoke about the decision to let Lukauskis and Eitutavicius go.

“The decision was based on our positional needs,” he said.

“We couldn’t find a place where Lukauskis could use his skills to the maximum.

“Eitutavicius, on the other hand, just lacked some experience at the highest level.”

Lithuania will compete in Group D at the FIBA World Championship against Spain, France, Lebanon, New Zealand and Canada.

Lithuania squad: Martynas Gecevicius, Martynas Pocius, Simas Jasaitis, Mantas Kalnietis, Tomas Delininkaitis, Renaldas Seibutis, Jonas Maciulis, Linas Kleiza, Paulius Jankunas, Tadas Klimavicius, Robertas Javtokas and Martynas Andriuskevicius.

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