The draw for the FIBA 17-year-old boys world championship drawn in Istanbul on Wednesday led to the fact that the Lithuanian U17 boys’ national team will start the competition in Group A together with the national teams of Spain, the Philippines and Puerto Rico.
Head of the Lithuanian national team trainer Tom Urbelionis did not overemphasize the results of the draw, stressing that in the fight for medals sooner or later you have to face the strongest opponents.
“The groups are fairly evenly distributed. Everyone plays basketball these days, we can’t write anything off, said the strategist of the Lithuanian 17-year-old national team. – Of course, it will be important to take a higher place in the group, so that in the playoffs we have to fight against a relatively weaker opponent. Although, if you want a medal, sooner or later you will have to meet everyone.”
Speaking about the goals set for the national team, T. Urbelionis noted that the team led by him will aim for the highest goals: “I don’t think that the draw changes anything, we will fight for the highest positions.”
The Executive Committee of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation set a goal for our people to take 1-6 places in the world U17 boys’ basketball championship.
The World Cup competition, in which 16 national teams will compete, divided into four groups of 4 teams, will be held in Istanbul from June 29 to July 7.
All participating teams will enter the playoffs. Teams of group A will be paired with national teams of group B. Here, the Lithuanians would face a duel with China, the United States of America, France or Guinea. The teams that won the first places in the groups will play against the fourth positions of the other group, the second – against the third.
Last summer, T.Urbelionios was trained in 2007. and later-born youths finished fourth at the European Championship held in North Macedonia. Then they lost to the Spanish in the semi-finals, and the French in the bronze medal match.
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