By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The hunt for a coveted spot in the FIBA World Cup 2027 has reached a critical juncture for Baltic powerhouses Lithuania and Latvia. Both countries announced their selective training camps for the upcoming FIBA window on Friday.
With the second and final qualification phase set to begin in late August, Lithuania and Latvia have opted to rely heavily on European and domestic talent. Notably, neither Baltic national team has called up any of their NBA players, forcing coaches to look toward continental depth to secure vital victories.
Head coach Rimas Kurtinaitis has finalized a 14-player squad designed to resurrect Lithuania’s campaign in Group J, where they currently sit at an even 3-3 record ahead of clashes with Turkiye in Istanbul and Bosnia-Herzegovina in Vilnius. This squad remains exactly one game away from breaching the coveted top-three qualifying bracket. Kurtinaitis is prioritizing a versatile backcourt rotation featuring Kristupas Zemaitis, Augustas Marciulionis, Paulius Valinskas, Laurynas Beliauskas, and Karolis Lukosiunas to direct the offense on the court.
To complement this perimeter unit, the selection boasts forwards Matas Jogela, Gytis Radzevicius, Justas Furmanavicius, Azuolas Tubelis, Mindaugas Kacinas, and Osvaldas Olisevicius. The frontline features Regimantas Miniotas, Marek Blazevic, and veteran big Donatas Motiejunas. This combination of size and perimeter shooting aims to inject much-needed consistency into the team’s half-court execution.
KANDIDĀTU SARAKSTS 🔥
🇱🇻 Latvijas vīriešu basketbola valstsvienības galvenais treneris Jānis Gailītis ar palīgiem izraudzījušies 16 basketbolistus, kuri 10. augustā uzsāks gatavošanos 🏆 FIBA 2027. gada Pasaules kausa izcīņas kvalifikācijas otrās kārtas turnīra pirmajām spēlēm… pic.twitter.com/LJA5gZTOMc
— Latvijas Basketbola savienība (@basketbols) August 7, 2026
Simultaneously, Latvian strategist Janis Gailitis faces a steep climb in Group K, where his side is also at 3-3 but trails Croatia and Germany by two games. Preparing for bouts against the Croatians in Zadar and Israel at the Xiaomi Arena, Gailitis named 16 players to camp. The 41-year-old tactician is focusing on generational balance, aiming for heightened defensive aggression to withstand their formidable opponents.
The roster’s maturity is highlighted by veteran forward Ojars Silins, returning after a two-year hiatus to join international stalwarts like Martins Meiers, Klavs Cavars, and Rihards Lomazs. This experienced foundation is balanced by U20 standout debutants Rolands Sulcs and Tomass Talcis. Rounding out the list are Roberts Blumbergs, Arturs Strautins, Martins Laksa, Marcis Steinbergs, Toms Skuja, Kristaps Kilps, Karlis Silins, Anrijs Miska, Arturs Zagars, and Kristers Zoriks.
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