Whatever opponent will play the Group B pass round of 16 European basketball. The Spanish team prepared for a monumental challenge, with Lithuania emerging as a clear continental elite candidate. The final stage promises a dramatic crossover, opening this Saturday at 8:45, broadcast on Four.
Domantas Sabonis, 26, standing 2.11 meters, and Jonas Valančiūnas, 30, also 2.11 meters tall, form one of the strongest pivot duos in Eurobasket. They symbolize Lithuania’s inner strength. The main worry for Spain is Lithuania’s ability to fight inside and threaten from outside.
Sabonis trained in the Unicaja youth system and speaks Spanish with a strong Andalusian accent, bringing great court sense and excellent assisting ability. Valančiūnas offers superior inside play due to his size and footwork, a center capable of standout showings, like the Germany game with 34 points, 14 rebounds and 2 blocks.
Beyond them, a cadre of talented players enters the frame, including Kuzminskas (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Giedraitis (Baskonia), Grigonis (Panathinaikos), Jokubaitis (Barcelona) and Lekavicius (Zalgiris). This depth gives Lithuania substantial solidity.
Valančiūnas leads Lithuania in offense during the early phase with an average of 18.4 points, followed by Grigonis (15.8) and Sabonis (12). Valančiūnas adds 11.4 and Sabonis 7, while Jokubaitis paces the team with 3.8 assists per game.
To the top
There are NBA players, EuroLeague players and a deep bench. Kuzminskas noted that even if the game plan won’t change much, preparation continues. The team aims to press the top against this opponent and will try everything, according to Scariolo, who remains clear-eyed about the challenge ahead. Rudy Fernández, sidelined by an ankle issue, may need a couple of rest days to see how it evolves, the Spanish coach says.
Kazys Maksvytis, the Lithuanian coach, faced late selection hurdles to confirm his place in Berlin. A victory in the final match of the round robin, 87-70 over Bosnia, secured his team a spot in the so-called Group of Death alongside Slovenia, France and a resurgent Germany.
Lithuania began the tournament with a tight loss to Slovenia (92-85). A defeat to France (73-77) followed, and a dramatic 107-109 overtime loss to Germany widened the challenge, a game decided after two overtimes with controversy. The Lithuanians filed a formal arbitration complaint after referees did not award a German coach a point for a technical fault.
“It’s surprising to see Lithuania sitting fourth in this group. They are a physical, high-caliber team. We faced them in two warm-up games this summer and, frankly, we lost both,” Scariolo commented on the Baltic squad.
The first warm-up ended with Lithuania taking a convincing 77-82 victory, showing control and efficient shooting from the core trio. Two days later in Vilnius, a tighter 78-76 win for Maksvytis’s squad left the door open for overtime, with Lorenzo Brown missing a substitute role in the final stretch.
Whatever opponent emerges from Group B to challenge in the last-16, Spain understands the magnitude. The Germans await as a possible opponent, with Lithuania positioned among the strongest teams in the crossovers, ready to prove themselves at the championship’s final stage.
Domantas Sabonis and Jonas Valančiūnas anchor Lithuania’s interior and balance the offense with a strong outside threat, while a flexible cast around them provides depth and versatility. The Spanish squad will rely on disciplined defense and efficient ball movement to counter these threats and advance in a tournament that rewards consistency and resilience. According to official game reports, the upcoming matchups will hinge on execution, depth across the roster, and the ability to adapt quickly to varied styles. (Cited: FIBA publications)