KAUNAS (Lithuania) - Expectation. Pressure. These things are only amplified when playing in front of a home crowd, especially when such a huge prize is at stake.

Lithuania have not shown their best brand of basketball at the Olympic qualifiers so far, but did what they needed to do to overcome Venezuela and Korea to secure top spot from Group A at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Kaunas.

There are no second chances now as the tournament heads into the Semi-Finals phase at the weekend, a fact 20-year-old point guard Rokas Jokubaitis acknowledges as his side must find a way to deal with any external factors in their quest for Tokyo.

"It is up to us not to feel pressure," Jokubaitis said. "The first two games are two lessons learned and we must improve. Of course, you can feel nervous more when it comes to a Semi-Final or Final, but you can not look back - if you lose, that's it.

"It has been a long time playing without fans," he added.  "So, to have most of the arena filled with our fans - some of the greatest in Europe and the whole world - it is amazing. When the games start, it should be an advantage for us.

"These are do-or-die games for us," Jokubaitis acknowledged. "We are playing at home, so I think this is even more important for us than the other teams. We have to play for our country the best that we can. We have to win these games because our only goal is to win the tournament and be at the Olympics."

Jokubaitis made his first appearance with the Senior team during the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Qualifiers and earned a spot on the 12-man roster in Kaunas following an impressive season with the hometown team Zalgiris.

The 2000-born rising star picked up the Young Player of the Year award in the Lithuanian domestic league and is now putting all his efforts into making an impression on the national team. Two games in, Jokubaitis is averaging 10.0 points and 5.0 assists per game, whilst shooting 60-percent from the floor, adding depth in the backcourt.

Going from watching sporting heroes to playing alongside them is a surreal feeling and Jokubaitis is making full use of the experience and knowledge surrounding him in the continued drive to take his game to the next level.

"When I was growing up, every summer I would be watching European Championships, the Olympics and the World Championships. Everyone in Lithuania would be watching our national teams.

"Now to think that I could reach the Olympics with players who I have been watching for a long time is pretty incredible," Jokubaitis said. "These players are now helping me a lot - it's good to have so many good players around me.

"I have one of the greatest point guards in Mantas Kalnietis always helping me," Jokubaitis added. "And our two NBA players [Jonas Valanciunas and Domantas Sabonis] know what it is like to play at the highest level and it is important to keep learning from everyone."

Jokubaitis first took to the international scene at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2016 when Lithuania were losing finalists against Spain. Another medal followed at U18 level before Jokubaitis competed twice at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in 2017 and 2019.

Some athletes never get a chance to compete at an Olympic Games. Jokubaitis potentially has the opportunity to do so before his 21st birthday. To do so, bigger challenges lie in wait this weekend and Jokubaitis has the look of someone who will meet them full steam ahead.

"The Olympics is the highest achievement for all sportspeople, not just in basketball," he noted. "It would be one of the best feelings for me to be there [in Tokyo]. We are still a few steps from this achievement.

"There are so many good players in this tournament with a lot of talent on the teams," Jokubaitis added. "I'm looking forward to the challenge. I'm trying to compete with them and trying to beat them. This will only help me improve and become a better player moving forward."

Jokubaitis will be part of Lithuania's future for years to come, but is very much part of the present here and now with all the immediate focus on helping secure a seventh consecutive appearance for the team at the Olympic Men's Basketball Tournament. 

FIBA