[Vilius]

This topic is about FIBA World Championhips 2006 that will be held in Japan on 19 August ? 3 September 2006. Still some time till the start of it but we can start discussing now. In this post I'll try give you the general information about the competition.

Competition Format


Qualified Teams


Group Draw

[Vilius]

23 players named for USA national team for 2006-2008 period. As you know only 12 can be registered for any competition.

Named to the 2006-08 USA National Team were: Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets); Gilbert Arenas (Washington Wizards); Shane Battier (Memphis Grizzlies); Chauncey Billups (Detroit Pistons); Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors); Bruce Bowen (San Antonio Spurs); Elton Brand (Los Angeles Clippers); Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers); Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic); LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers); Antawn Jamison (Washington Wizards); Joe Johnson (Atlanta Hawks); Shawn Marion (Phoenix Suns); Brad Miller (Sacramento Kings); Adam Morrison (Gonzaga University); Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Lakers); Chris Paul (New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets); Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics); J.J. Redick (Duke University); Michael Redd (Milwaukee Bucks); Luke Ridnour (Seattle Supersonics); Amar? Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns); and Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat).

[Vilius]

Schedule:


Lithuania group games

August 19th Saturday 13:30 (LT time (UK time +2) Turkey - Lithuania
August 20th Sunday 13:30 (LT time (UK time +2) Lithuania - Greece
August 22nd Tuesday 7:30 (LT time (UK time +2) Lithuania - Qatar
August 23rd Wednesday 7:30 (LT time (UK time +2) Australia - Lithuania
August 24th Thursday 10:30 (LT time (UK time +2) Lithuania - Brazil

I'll have to get up early to see the game with Qatar and Australia {SMILIES_PATH}/baby.gif

[bostonceltics]

Shaq not in the US team. Im suprised though they'll probs still win England didnt even qualify british basketball is really in trouble

[Vilius]

Many NBA stars don't play for the national teams including Shaq. They all are rich and that is the most important thing for them. There is no pride to play for your country.

England couldn't qualify because they play in European division B. It's not like in football when all teams of the continent are sorted in groups and they play qualification games. First of all there are two divisions in Europe A and B. Stronger teams play in A and weaker in B. Teams in division B fight for the qualification to division A. While teams from division A play for qualification to European Basketball Championships. Like in football they are sorted in groups. First 5 teams from EB qualifies to World Championships and 3 teams get wildcards from FIBA. The same goes with other continents.

[bostonceltics]

ah ok thanks for clearing that up and its a shame most NBA players are driven purely by money nice to see some high schooler/college baller in their squad

[Vilius]

The list of players that I have posted is just candidates. Only 12 of them will be selected. I will analyse Lithuanian squad in the next posts.

[Vilius]

Referees announced.

Referees Group A (in Sendai):

Mr. Michael AYLEN, AUS
Mr. Recep ANKARALI, TUR
Mr. Abdellilah CHLIF, MAR
Mr. Hak Mo CHUNG, KOR
Mr. Virginijus DOVIDAVICIUS, LTU
Mr. Fabio FACCHINI, ITA
Mr. Carl JUNGEBRAND, FIN
Mr. Terry Matthew MOORE, USA
Mr. Carlos Renato DOS SANTOS, BRA
Mr. Alvaro Dario TRIAS IGLESIAS, URU

Referees Group B (in Hiroshima):

Mr. Abreu MUHIMUA JOAO, MOZ
Mr. Ilija BELOSEVIC, SCG
Mr. Jose Anibal CARRION, PUR
Mr. Alejandro C?sar CHITI, ARG
Mr. Rabah NOUJAIM, LIB
Mr. Lazaros VOREADIS, GRE
Mr. Borys RYZHYK, UKR
Mr. Petr SUDEK, SVK
Mr. Eddie VIATOR, FRA
Mr. Maogong YANG, CHN

Referees Group C (in Hamamatsu):

Mr. Juan ARTEAGA, ESP
Mr. Pablo Alberto ESTEVEZ, ARG
Mr. Mike Amir HOMSY, CAN
Mr. Guerrino CEREBUCH, ITA
Mr. Reynaldo Antonio MERCEDES SANCHEZ, DOM
Mr. Yosuke MIYATAKE, JPN
Mr. Dubravko MUHVIC, CRO
Mr. Sasa PUKL, SLO
Mr. Eddie Fernanzo RUSH, USA
Mr. Jorge VAZQUEZ, PUR

Referees Group D (in Sapporo):

Mr. Shmuel BACHAR, ISR
Mr. Romualdas BRAZAUSKAS, LTU
Mr. Scott Jason BUTLER, AUS
Mr. Daniel Alfredo DELGADO CASADIEGO, VEN
Mr. Yuji HIRAHARA, JPN
Mr. Milivoje JOVCIC, SCG
Mr. Cristiano Jesus MARANHO, BRA
Mr. Jose MARTIN, ESP
Mr. Domingos Francisco SIMAO, ANG
Mr. Nikolaos ZAVLANOS, GRE

By the way I have added he picture of the trophy to my first post.

[Vilius]

Latest star who won't play in FIBA WC is Predrag Stojakovic. He is a great player but Serbia & Montenegro have many good players.

[Vilius]

Probably the brightest star in USA team, Kobe Bryant, will miss WC because of a foot injury. He has undergone a surgery and will be out for between 8 and 12 weeks.

[Vilius]

Argentina have named the final squad for WC.

Juan Ignacio "Pepe" Sanchez ("Unicaja" Malaga, Spain)
Emanuel Ginobili (San Antonio "Spurs", USA)
Pablo Prigioni ("Tau Ceramica" Vitoria, Spain)
Daniel Farabello ("Whirpool" Varese, Italy)
Carlos Delfino (Detroit "Pistons", USA)
Leonardo Gutierrez (Ben Hur "Rafaela", Argentina)
Andres Nocioni (Chicago "Bulls", USA)
Walter Hermann (Charlotte "Bobcats", USA)
Luis Scola ("Tau Ceramica")
Ruben Wokkowyski ("Khimki", Russia)
Fabricio Oberto ("Spurs")
Gabriel Fernandez ("Whirpool").

USA has announced 15 man squad. There will still be 3 players dropped because only 12 players will go to WC.

Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets)
Gilbert Arenas (Washington Wizards)
Shane Battier (Houston Rockets)
Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors)
Bruce Bowen (San Antonio Spurs)
Elton Brand (Los Angeles Clippers)
Kirk Hinrich (Chicago Bulls)
Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic)
LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Antawn Jamison (Washington Wizards)
Joe Johnson (Atlanta Hawks)
Brad Miller (Sacramento Kings)
Chris Paul (New Orleans/ Oklahoma City Hornets)
Amare Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns)
Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat).

Lithuania squad so far (14 players; two will be dropped).

Darjus Lavrinovic (Kazan Uniks, Russia)
Ksystof Lavrinovic (Kazan Uniks, Russia)
Robertas Javtokas (Panathinaikos, Greece)
Darius Songaila (Washington Wizzards, NBA)
Paulius Jankunas (Zalgiris, Lithuania)
Linas Kleiza (Denver Nuggets, NBA)
Mindaugas Zukauskas (Montepaschi, Italy)
Simas Jasaitis (Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Israel)
Arvydas Macijauskas (Olympiakos. Greece)
Giedrius Gustas (Dinamo, Russia)
Mantas Kalnietis (Zalgiris, Lithuania)
Arturas Jomantas (Lietuvos Rytas, Lithuania)
Mindaugas Lukauskis (Lietuvos Rytas, Lithuania)
Tomas Delininkaitis (Lietuvos Rytas, Lithuania)

[Vilius]

Three more teams have named their final squads.

Brazil
Anderson Varejao (Cleveland "Cavaliers", NBA)
Leandro Barbosa (Phoenix "Suns", NBA)
Tiago Splitter ("Tau Ceramica" Vitoria, Spain)
Guilherme Giovannoni ("VidiVici" Bologna, Italy)
Marcelo Machado ("?algiris" Kaunas, Lithuania)
Alex Garcia (Preto "Ribeirao", Brazil)
W.dos Santos (Preto "Ribeirao", Brazil)
Caio Torres ("Estudiantes" Madrid, Spain)
Andre Bambu ("Pamesa" Castelon, Spain 3rd division)
Murilo Becker ("Franca", Brazil)
Ferreira (Uberlandia "Unitri", Brazil)
Rafa Huerta ("Juventut", Spain).

Australia
Jason Smith, Mark Worthington, Dawid Barlow, Luke Kendall, Russell Hinder (all - Sidney "Kings", Australia)
Sam Maccinnon, C.J.Bruton (both - Brisbane "Bullets", Australia)
Andrew Bogut (Milwaukee "Bucks", NBA)
Daniel Kickert (St.Mary college, USA)
Brad Newley (Townsville "Crocodiles", Australia)
Aaron Bruce (Baylor university, USA)
Wade Helliwell ("Lottomatica" Roma, Italy).

Italy
Fabio Di Bella ("Virtus" Bologna, Italy)
Gianluca Basile ("Winterthur FCB" Barcelona, Spain)
Matteo Soragna ("Benetton" Treviso, Italy)
Marco Belinelli ("Climamio" Bologna, Italy)
Andrea Pecile ("Montepaschi" Siena, Italy)
Marco Mordente ("Benetton" Treviso, Italy)
Mason Rocca ("Carpisa" Napoli, Italy)
Andrea Michelori ("Vertical Vision" Cantu, Italy)
Stefano Mancinelli ("Climamio" Bologna, Italy)
Angelo Gigli ("Bipop Carrire" Emilia-Rego, Italy)
Luca Garri ("Angelico" Biela, Italy)
Denis Marconato ("Winterthur FCB" Barcelona, Spain).

[bostonceltics]

Nice coverage vilius. Good luck Lithuania {SMILIES_PATH}/biggrin.gif

[Vilius]

Two more teams have named their final squads.

Lithuania

Giedrius Gustas ("Dinamo" Moscow region, Russia)
Tomas Delininkaitis ("Lietuvos rytas", Lithuania)
Arvydas Macijauskas ("Olympiakos" Pireaus, Greece)
Mantas Kalnietis ("?algiris" Kaunas, Lithuania)
Simas Jasaitis ("Maccabi" Tel-Aviv, Israel)
Mindaugas ?ukauskas (free agent)
Paulius Jankūnas ("?algiris" Kaunas, Lithuania)
K?y?tof Lavrinovič ("Uniks" Kazan, Russia)
Linas Kleiza (Denver "Nuggets", NBA)
Darius Songaila (Washington "Wizards", NBA)
Robertas Javtokas ("Panathinaikos" Athens, Greece)
Darju? Lavrinovič ("Uniks" Kazan, Russia).

Slovenia

Jaka Lakovič ("Winterthur Barcelona", Spain)
Sa?o O?bolt ("Union Olimpija" Lubliana, Slovenia)
Sani Bečirovič ("Panathinaikos" Athens, Greece)
Goran Dragič ("Geoplin Slovan", Slovenia)
Beno Udrih (San Antonio "Spurs", NBA)
Marko Milič ("Union Olimpija" Lubliana, Slovenia)
Bostjan Nachbar (New Jersey "Nets", NBA)
?eljko Zagorac ("Helios" Domzale, Slovenia)
Goran Jurak ("Vertical Vision" Cantu, Italy)
Uro? Slokar (Toronto "Raptors", NBA)
Primo? Bre?ec (Charlotte "Bobcats", NBA)
Radoslav Nesterovič (San Antionio "Spurs", NBA).

[Al Bundy]

the championship is getting closer and closer..can wait for it {SMILIES_PATH}/smile.gif Slovenia have 5 players from NBA..nice stat {SMILIES_PATH}/smile.gif Lithuania squad looks well on paper I hope they can do their best on the court..

[ARISforever]

we all hopefull to go in the final....come on Greece,HELLAS for the GOLD.....come on Greece

[Vilius]

"ARISforever":8bcc4 said:

we all hopefull to go in the final....come on Greece,HELLAS for the GOLD.....come on Greece

Could you make more constructive post? By the way welcome on board {SMILIES_PATH}/thup.gif I hope you are here for a long stay.

[Vilius]

Puerto Rico coach Julio Toro named final 12 men squad for FIBA WC.

Carlos Arroyo ("Magic", NBA)
Bobby Joe Hatton ("Leones")
Manuel Narvaez ("Leones")
Christian Dalmau ("Prokom Trefl", Poland)
Filiberto Rivera ("Criollos")
Angelo Reyes ("Criollos")
Rick Apodaca ("Polpak")
Larry Ayuso ("Capitanes")
Carmelo Antrone Lee ("Conquistadores")
Antonio Latimer ("Maratonistas")
Daniel Santiago ("Unicaja", Spain)
Peter John Ramos ("Wizards", NBA).