FIBA Basketball

    Sernius welcomes back key duo

    VILNIUS (EuroBasket Women 2015) - While Lithuania head coach Mantas Sernius will rely on the core of players who punched a ticket for EuroBasket Women 2015, the play-caller has been further boosted by the

    VILNIUS (EuroBasket Women 2015) - While Lithuania head coach Mantas Sernius will rely on the core of players who punched a ticket for EuroBasket Women 2015, the play-caller has been further boosted by the possible addition of a key duo back onto the roster.

    Sernius has named a modest 17-player candidate list and it includes the legendary Sandra Linkeviciene who has so often been the driving force for the national team over the last decade or so.

    Having missed last summer, she will be back on board - perhaps alongside Giedre Paugaite, who has been the standout player in the Belarusian League this year at Tsmoki Minsk.

    However, barring a couple of changes, it is likely to be the same team which played so well in qualification last year that steps out in Hungary.

    "We have the nucleus of last year and this is very important," reiterated Sernius.

    "The final squad will emerge after the camps and [friendly games], but it is clear that the overall quality will be higher, given that the major players in the season have all showed excellent form at their clubs."

    There is just one player being considered who hasn't previously been in the shake up for the senior team and that is rising star Laura Juskaite.

    Still just 17-years-old and a burgeoning talent, the forward led the Lithuanian league in scoring this season and has shown at youth level what she is capable of.

    "Laura has been invited to the women's senior team to see what she can look forward to in the future," explained Sernius.

    "She is very promising and has great potential."

    Lithuania's preparations for EuroBasket Women will begin on 4 May with a camp in Druskininkai, prior to a number of friendly games against the likes of Ukraine, Belarus, France, Sweden, Latvia, Greece and China.

    Lithuania have been pitched into Group D and will face Hungary, the Slovak Republic, Spain and Sweden in Sopron.

    Lithuania preliminary squad for EuroBasket Women 2015: Lina Aglinskaite, Monika Grigalauskyte, Gabriele Gutkauskaite, Laura Juskaite, Vita Kuktiene, Mante Kvederaviciute, Sandra Linkeviciene, Kamile Nacickaite, Santa Okockyte, Giedre Paugaite, Gintare Petronyte, Lina Pikciute, Egle Siksniute, Greta Sniokaite, Marina Solopova, Egle Sulciute, Inesa Visgaudaite.

    Go to eurobasketwomen2015.com for full coverage of EuroBasket Women 2015.

    FIBA