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Jonas Valanciunas should prepare for a more important role at this year’s inaugural FIBA World Cup of Basketball in Spain due to absence of Robert Javtokas.

A day before the announcement of the national team candidates, news broke out in Lithuanian media that the veteran center will take a break this summer.

“I already had a couple surgeries, now I’ll need time for rehabilitation”, Javtokas confirmed he won’t join national team this summer.

Javtokas, 34, currently linked with Galatasaray, spent the last three seasons with Zalgiris.

He was a member of Lithuanian national team since 2001 and is not yet planning on retiring from international basketball claiming that he will be ready next year or even 2016 if he’s still needed.

Lithuania is placed in Group D with Angola, Australia, Mexico, Slovenia and South Korea. The training camp begins on July 7 in Palanga.