Toronto Raptors' young center Jonas Valančiūnas (L) will lead Lithuania in this years' FIBA EuroBasket. (Photo : Reuters)
Lithuania will begin its 2015 FIBA EuroBasket title quest by playing a hard-fighting Ukraine side in their opener on Saturday, September 5 at the Arena Riga in Latvia.
Head coach Jonas Kazlauskas' squad captured the silver medal in the 2013 edition of this tournament after they were defeated by a Tony Parker-led French team in the finals, 80-66, at the Arena Stožice in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
This year, the Lithuanians will continue to be led by Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valančiūnas. However, former Denver Nugget and sharpshooter Linas Kleiza earlier said that he will skip international competition to rest this summer, as per Sportando.
Valančiūnas is expected to fill-in Lithuania's scoring need as he was the team's leading scorer, rebounder, and shot blocker during the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain where they placed fourth, via Betting Pro.
The 23-year-old big man will be backed up by international veterans Paulius Jankūnas, Jonas Mačiulis, Renaldas Seibutis, and starting point guard Mantas Kalnietis who is coming back from injury.
Meanwhile, Ukraine will be guided by new coach Yevgen Murzin in this year's tournament as veteran NBA mentor Mike Fratello, who had been with the squad since 2011, has already cut his ties with the team last May.
Ukraine placed sixth in 2013 after they were defeated by the hosts in the finals of the 5th place bracket competitions, 69-63.
Prediction: Lithuania wins, 82-66
Lithuania starting five: Jonas Valančiūnas (C), Paulius Jankūnas (PF), Jonas Mačiulis (SF), Renaldas Seibutis (SG), Mantas Kalnietis (PG)
Ukraine starting five: Viacheslav Kravtsov (C), Maksym Korniyenko (PF), Oleksandr Lypovyy (SF), Sergii Gladyr (SG), Eugene Jeter (PG)
