The 3×3 basketball team was sent to Japan

The six candidates led by coach Dainius Novicks are leaving for the Far East – Aurelijs Pukelis, Marijus Užupis, Gintautas Matulis, Darius Tarvydas, Šarūnas Vingelis and Evaldas Džiaugys. The final quartet competing in the Olympic selection will be revealed only on the eve of the tournament.

Lithuanians started their preparations for the Olympic summer in Kaunas, emphasizing physical fitness. This was followed by a series of high-level tournaments in France, capped by a triumph at the final stage of this competition. Recently, our family spent 10 days visiting Serbia, where they sparred with the world and European champions. The last highlight was a trip to Spain, where the national team finally polished the details of the game.

D. Novickas and A. Pukelis briefly summarized the stage of preparation for the most important challenges, which started immediately after the new year and is only now nearing its end.

“There were three months of preparation, everything went smoothly. I wanted to thank LKF, 3×3 basketball association, VDU, “Hoptrans” for trusting us and allowing us to prepare. Thanks to the men who played sports and donated their time. Everything is going well so far, just the icing on the cake. We will try and try not to disappoint,” said the coach of the Lithuanian 3×3 basketball team.

“Preparation is over, training is decreasing, now it remains to show everything on the field with the other national teams,” claimed A. Pukelis, the leader of the country’s ranking. – We are all healthy today, it’s fun because of that. We are waiting for the selection and that’s it. Everything will depend on how we manage ourselves and evaluate each opponent. We will hope for the best – to win.”

In Japan, the Lithuanians plan to train with local teams, and another serious test awaits on April 27-28 in the city of Ucunomija. The club triples basketball season will also start in the same location, which will be opened by the “Utsunomiya Opener” competition. Raudondvaris “Hoptrans” team, formed on the basis of the national team, will compete in them.

In the Olympic selection, eight teams will compete for the only ticket to Paris. In group A, Lithuania will compete with the Netherlands, Brazil and Puerto Rico. In group B – the national teams of France, Mongolia, Japan and Egypt.

The president of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation (LKF) Vydas Gedvilas also visited the send-off, wishing that the men’s triples basketball team would give a good start to all the battles of the Olympic year, in which another group of national teams will defend the country’s honor.

“LKF hopes that you will play in the Olympic Games,” said V. Gedvilas, head of national basketball, to the national team. – This would be a historic event. You would make a very good start for the other teams, both the women who will play later in the qualifiers and the men’s 5×5 team who will compete in Puerto Rico. Our dream is that all three teams participate in the Paris Olympic Games and that one, or maybe all, win medals of some color.”

If the Lithuanian national team returns from Japan without an Olympic passport, there will be a second chance. On May 16-19, Debrecen (Hungary) will host the last Olympic selection, where 16 teams will distribute the last three tickets to the Olympics. The Lithuanian women’s national team will also participate in this competition.