By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Lithuania national team head coach Darius Maskoliunas announced the preliminary list of 15 players for the training camp ahead of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament to be held in Kaunas between June 22 and July 4.
Jonas Valanciunas and Domantas Sabonis headline the list. The Memphis Grizzlies led by Valanciunas will begin the 2021 NBA Playoffs best-of-seven series versus the Utah Jazz on Sunday, while the Indiana Pacers and Sabonis failed to make it through the play-in tournament.
The third NBA player named by Maskoliunas was Ignas Brazdeikis. The Orlando Magic forward recently had his Lithuanian citizenship restored to become eligible.
Eimantas Bendzius, Arnas Butkevicius, Tomas Dimsa, Rokas Giedraitis, Marius Grigonis, Rokas Jokubaitis, Mantas Kalnietis, Mindaugas Kuzminskas. Lukas Lekavicius, Gytis Masiulis, Tadas Sedekerskis, and Edgaras Ulanovas complete the list.
Jonas Maciulis missed the cut, but can become a late addition, if necessary, noted Maskoliunas. Arturas Gudaitis was ruled out due to injury.
Lithuania will face South Korea and Venezuela in the preliminary round of the OQT. Angola, Poland, and Slovenia shape the other group. The national team winning the tournament will advance to the Olympic Games.
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