LTU - Stress fracture knocks Javtokas out of London Games
KAUNAS (Olympics) - Lithuania's bid to reach the podium at the London Games has been hit by the loss of veteran center Robertas Javtokas to a foot injury. The veteran center was not at full strength at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Caracas, Venezuela, where he helped the Baltic side capture one of the three spots for London. Javtokas ...
KAUNAS (Olympics) - Lithuania's bid to reach the podium at the London Games has been hit by the loss of veteran center Robertas Javtokas to a foot injury.
The veteran center was not at full strength at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Caracas, Venezuela, where he helped the Baltic side capture one of the three spots for London.
Javtokas was hobbled by an apparent ankle injury.
The Lithuanian Basketball Federation have announced that following Javtokas' return to Europe, tests have indicated he has a stress fracture.
"Numerous studies have shown that Robertas suffered a stress fracture of the foot," said one of the Lithuanian national team doctors, Vytenis Trumpickas, in a statement issued by the federation.
Javtokas, the national team captain, will have to wear a special splint for three weeks and will then need to rehabilitate the injury.
Hugely popular in the team, the 32-year-old was in obvious pain in Venezuela where the national team had to pull out all stops to claim one of the Olympic berths.
Lithuania beat Venezuela in their opener but then lost to Nigeria.
Puerto Rico had the Lithuanians on the ropes in the Quarter-Finals but they survived and then defeated the Dominican Republic in the Semi-Finals to earn a spot in London.
"I'm very sad, what more is there to say here," Javtokas said.
"We put a lot of effort to get to the Olympics and now I have to miss it."
Lithuania coach Kestutis Kemzura was robbed of Linas Kleiza and Jonas Maciulis at last year’s EuroBasket because of injuries but both have returned.
Now he'll be without Javtokas.
"It's an enormous loss," Kemzura said.
"It is hard to express how we'll miss him, and not just on the court but off it.
"Now others will not only have to do their job, but give a little 'extra' - for Robertas."
VEF Riga center Antanas Kavaliauskas, the last cut from the squad before the OQT, has replaced Javtokas in the squad.
Lithuania will play in Group A of the Olympics with Tunisia, Nigeria, Team USA, France and Argentina.
FIBA