Jonas Kazlauskas announced the preparation plans of Lithuanian national team ahead of this year’s FIBA Basketball World Cup. The schedule is busy with 14 warm-up during the period of one month.
Lithuanians, who were drawn in Group D with Slovenia, Australia, Angola, Mexico and Korea, will gather to the first training camp in Palanga on July 7. The first preparation game will take place Siauliai against northern neighbours Latvia.
Kazlauskas explained his decision to have a large amount of preparation games by the aim to give the young players a chance to show themselves as well as to gain experience.
He also revealed that there are 27 players in total in his preliminary list. So far none of them said ‘no’ but there are a few players whose participation is doubtful due to health issues. The official 24-man list of candidates will be announced in May.
While refusing to speak about specific names, Kazlauskas revealed that Linas Kleiza and Martynas Pocius both told him their desire to play for Lithuania thus denying rumours about their decisions to take a break this summer.
Only 5 games will be played abroad including trips to Finland, Slovenia and Croatia. 8 games will be double-headers.
July 26, Lithuania vs. Latvia in Siauliai, Lithuania
July 28, Lithuania vs. Georgia in Panevezys, Lithuania
July 30, Lithuania vs. Georgia in Vilnius, Lithuania
August 4, Lithuania vs. Finland in Helsinki, Lithuania
August 8, Lithuania vs. Ukraine in Klaipeda, Lithuania
August 9, Lithuania vs. Finland in Klaipeda, Lithuania
August 11, Lithuania vs. Australia in Vilnius, Lithuania
August 16, Lithuania vs. Greece in Kaunas, Lithuania
August 17, Lithuania vs. New Zealand in Kaunas, Lithuania
August 18, Lithuania vs. Slovenia in Kaunas, Lithuania
August 21, Lithuania vs. Brazil in Ljubljana, Slovenia
August 22, Lithuania vs. Iran in Ljubljana, Slovenia
August 23, Lithuania vs. Slovenia in Ljubljana, Slovenia
August 26, Lithuania vs. Croatia in Zagreb, Croatia
