LTU - NT hopeful Motiejunas into the record books

GDYNIA (Euroleague/Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - The opponents were a struggling Union Olimpija, but nothing can take away from the awesome, record-setting rebounding display of rising Lithuania star Donatas Motiejunas of Asseco Prokom in the Euroleague on Wednesday night.

Pressing his claims on a weekly basis to be included his national side for next year's FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Motiejunas had 21 rebounds to go with his 11 points in a 67-52 victory for his side in Gdynia against the Ljubljana team.

Eighteen of his boards came on the defensive glass and that mark was a Euroleague record, surpassing the previous record 17 jointly held by Joseph Blair (Scavolini Pesaro in 2001) and Mirsad Turkcan (Montepaschi Siena in 2003).

Just two other players have grabbed more than 20 rebounds in a Euroleague game.

Greece captain Antonis Fotsis once had 24 in a game while on the books of Dynamo Moscow in 2007.

Turkcan had 23 in a game once and three other times pulled down 21.

Fans of Motiejunas have every reason to believe the 21-year-old is going to become a lot better.

In a recent interview, the 2.13m forward/center said: "There is always something that you need to work on.

"It's the most important thing, you constantly need to work on some aspect of your play.

"If you stop, and you think that you reached the peak, then you stop improving."

Motiejunas is averaging 14.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game this season in the Euroleague.

He was taken 20th overall by Minnesota in the first round of this year's NBA draft.

The Timberwolves then traded his rights to Houston.

FIBA