By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Dovydas Giedraitis and Laurynas Birutis have been ruled out from the upcoming games of Lithuania’s senior national team in the Qualification Round of the 2025 EuroBasket.
Zalgiris updated the status of both players on Monday, following the Citadele KMT Final Four in Kaunas and winning the domestic Cup for the seventh time in team history.
Per the press release: “Zalgiris Kaunas defended the Citadele KMT title, but lost Dovydas Giedraitis to an injury during the Final Four.
Zalgiris defender suffered a leg pain in the second quarter of the semi-final game against Siauliai and was unable to continue the match.
On Monday, tests revealed that Giedraitis had a tear in his hamstring, which will force him to miss some time without basketball.
Due to the injury, Giedraitis will no longer be attending the FIBA 2025 European Championship qualifiers camp of the Lithuanian men’s national basketball team.
Laurynas Birutis, who has minor health problems, will also not join the national team.
Three Zalgiris players – Edgaras Ulanovas, Tomas Dimsa and Lukas Lekavicius – are expected to play in the qualifying matches against Poland and Estonia on 22 and 26 February.”
Lithuania, coached by former Zalgiris play-caller Kazys Maksvytis, will welcome Poland in Vilnius on Thursday and visit Estonia next Monday, tipping off Group H of the EuroBasket Qualifiers. The preliminary squad, including the injured Zalgiris players, was announced in early February.
Resuming the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season after the international break, Zalgiris hosts Olympiacos on March 1.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net