LTU - Sara's expected return energises Lithuania

VILNIUS (EuroBasket 2007) - It doesn't take long for a country to go from hot to cold on the international scene, but by the lofty standards Lithuania have established for themselves in the past decade, that is exactly what has happened.

The team that nearly upset the United States at the Sydney Olympics in the semi-final round in 2000 captured a gold medal at EuroBasket 2003 and at the Athens Games the following year, the Lithuanians took their play to new heights.

Behind the inspirational play of Sarunas Jasikevicius and a high-powered offense, Lithuania won all of its preliminary round games, even beating the United States, and reached the semi-finals before becoming unstuck against Italy and ultimately losing to the Americans in the bronze medal game.

Since Athens, the Lithuanians have finished out of the medals.

With Jasikevicius taking a break from the national team, the team still managed to play well enough at EuroBaske 2005 to qualify for the FIBA World Championship in 2006.

In Japan, Lithuania progressed from the Group C in Hamamatsu - the Group of Death - along with Greece, Turkey and Australia - to the elimination round and saw their tournament end in the quarter-final round.

Now, with Jasikevicius "99% certain of playing" this summer, and new coach Ramunas Butautas' having assembled a very impressive preliminary squad, the real Lithuania may be back.

The general feeling in the Baltics is that even without Arvydas Macijauskas, the sharpshooter who has pulled out because he isn't fully recovered from surgery on his Achilles tendon, the Lithuanians will contend for a place on the podium.

The return of 31-year-old Jasikevicius would give a huge lift to the team.

The MVP of EuroBasket 2003, when Lithuania went unbeaten in Sweden, Jasikevicius was the inspiration behind that comeback win over Team USA in Greece.

He has played in the NBA for the past two seasons and is currently on the books of the Golden State Warriors.

There are other reasons to like Lithuania's chances.

Rimantas Kaukenas, the MVP of Montepaschi Siena's Italian title winning team this year, and Panathinaikos star Ramunas Siskauskas, are in the preliminary squad.

Kaukenas has narrowly missed out on selection in the past but stands an excellent chance of making the final cut, while Siskauskas was an invaluable member of the team who decided to rest last summer.

From the team that competed in Japan are Simas Jasaitis, Linas Kleiza, Paulius Jankunas, Darius Songaila, Ksystof and Darjus Lavrinovic, Robertas Javtokas and Giedrius Gustas.

Donatas Slanina of Polish giants Prokom Trefl Sopot, Zalgiris Kaunas small forward Jonas Maciulis and Antanas Kavaliauskas, the big center who plays at Texas A&M in the United States, are also fighting for a spot.

Lithuanian spokesman Linas Kunigelis said: "The team will look completely new.

"You cannot compare it to last year, or EuroBasket 2005.

"Macijauskas is definitely out due to health problems. He had surgery on his Achilles tendon at the beginning of last season and said he doesn't believe he is able to play.

"Jasikevicius is 99% certain that he will play, from what I know."

There is still no place in the squad for Renaldas Seibutis, the MVP of Lithuania's gold medal winning team at the FIBA U21 World Championship two years ago in Argentina.

"I think he will not be in unless something dramatic happens and several players are out of the main squad," Kunigelis said.

"And there is a lot of competition at positions two (shooting guard) and three (small forward)."

Cleveland Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas had announced he was ready to play but his wife Jennifer tragically delivered stillborn twins in February.

Ilgauskas eventually returned to the court and helped Cleveland reach the NBA Finals.

"He was ready to play for the first time after 12 years this summer, but now, unofficially, he's moved his plans to the next summer," Kunigelis said.

"He said he would like to play at the Beijing Olympics if Lithuania qualify, or in the additional qualifying tournament next year."

Lithuania will compete in Group C in Palma de Mallorca against Germany, Turkey and the Czech Republic.

Jeff Taylor
FIBA