Lithuania It is one of the great sensations so far this Eurobasket. The selection directed by the mythical Rimas Kurtinaitis has started like a shot the championship, and with the Two victories that treasures, has sent a message to the rest of the teams fighting to win the continental glory on September 14 at the Riga de Latvia Arena.
So far, two incontestable triumphs: the first, on the opening day before Great Britain by 70-94, a +24 that expanded in the second game against Montenegro, which they defeated for 94-67. This Saturday from 12:30 p.m. (CET), the Germany of Dennis Schröder y Franz Wagner threatens to put the most difficult things.
Valanciunas and Jokubaitis, the two references of Lithuania / FIBA
Valanciunas and Jokubaitis, Lithuania references
In the two Lithuanian triumphs, there have been a couple of names that have stood out above the rest. In the lithuania of John Valanciun, The pivot of the Denver Nuggets It is being a safe value in the painting with the 18.5 points and seven rebounds averaged by meeting. But on the outer line he is very well accompanied by a former Barça player as he is Rokas Jokubaitis.
The game director, who will play in the Bayern Munich Next season, he is already one of the group's leaders. At 24, he already treasures extensive international experience to be one of the referents for kurtinaitis. This last year, in Maccabi Tel Aviv, 'Joku' had already uploaded his offensive benefits with respect to what was shown in his Barça stage, with 12.6 goals and 4.6 assists For duel in the past Euroleague. A performance that Rokas is improving in this Eurobasket start.
The numbers of Jokubaitis in the European
Before the British team, the former Barça player went to the 12 points, six assists and five rebounds. Records that raised to the 21 goals and 12 basket passes to the Montenegrinos. A double-double for 25 assessment credits in 22 minutes, with 50% success in the field shooting and a full (2/2) from the outer line. In addition, with those 12 assists contributed to reach 35 to establish a new record of basket passes in a Eurobasket meeting, Beating a brand (31) that Yugoslavia had since 2001.
This way, Jokubautitis is in 16.5 points, nine assists and 19.5 valuation at this European start, And their sensations cannot be better. In fact, they are the first double figures that Rokas achieves with the national team. “These records are pretty, but you have to forget them as soon as we leave the pavilion. Before Germany we want to make good basketball, quality, and of course, get victory “, Jokubaitis commented after the party in statements collected by '15min.LT'.
Jokubautitis is one of the leaders of Lithuania / FIBA
Vucevic is clear: “I think I could play in the NBA”
In addition, he received praise and respect for an entity rival as it is Nikola Vucevic. The Chicago Bulls pivot wet when asked if he saw the former Barça player prepared to play in the NBA: “Yes, I think I could play in the league, there they need game directors like him. I really like his game,” commented.
Thus, Jokubaitis goes through a very sweet moment with which he is being one of the leaders of Lithuania. A vital state, so that Lithuanians dream of reacing a Continental Medal 10 years later, After the silver achieved in France 2015, in that Eurobasket in which Pau Gasol The Gauls were in a semifinals that are the history of European basketball.
