The tournament for the Lithuanian men’s national team will start only on Saturday.
However, this time our team enters the competition with a special status – it was the Lithuanians who became the European champions last year after defeating their neighbors, the Latvians, 21:17 in the final.
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The national team coach Dainius Novickas is bringing a team to the tournament that includes several debutants.
Together with team veterans Evaldas Džiaugys and Ignas Vaitkus, two other faces well known to fans – Paulius Sorokas and Evaldas Šaulys – have also traveled to Belgium.
“I had to wait a long time,” shared P. Sorokas about the long-awaited moment when he got to wear the national team jersey with his name on it.
– I dreamed of putting on the national team jersey. Life took me on a path that delayed it, but I pursued it and finally achieved it, and I am very happy about that.”
“Finding out that you are going to represent your country at the European Championship is the best feeling. A great responsibility and an even greater honor to represent the flag. We will strive to win,” said E. Šaulys.
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Both of these players are by no means newcomers to 3×3 basketball. This year, they represented the Kaunas VDU team in international Challenger series tournaments, and they have gained experience on 3×3 courts in previous years as well.
Meanwhile, E. Džiaugys and I. Vaitkus represent the Raudondvaris “Hoptrans” club. Both have announced that in pursuit of a spot at the Los Angeles Olympic Games, they will focus on 3×3 basketball.
Lithuania will start the championship in Group C. On Saturday at 5 p.m. Lithuanian time, they will face the barrier of Ireland, and at 9:20 p.m., there will be a rematch of last year’s final against the Latvian team.
Motivation will not be lacking for the Lithuanians in this confrontation – the last head-to-head match with their neighbors ended very painfully. In June, in the World Championship quarterfinals, the Latvians defeated our team convincingly – 22:13.
The top two teams from the group will advance to the quarterfinals. This stage, as well as the semifinals and finals, will take place on Sunday. All tournament matches will be broadcast live on LRT, according to the 3×3 basketball association’s announcement.
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