I’m told Valanciunas will once again play for Lithuania in EuroBasket next month, you’ll have Cory Joseph to watch with Canada at the FIBA Americas tournament in Mexico that starts late this month and there’s every chance Luis Scola will take one more shot with Argentina at the same event, I was told last week.
Valanciunas is a central figure (pun intended) on the Lithuanian team and plays every chance he gets, and Cory Joseph is obviously going to be part of Canada Basketball for some time to come. None of that is surprising. What is a bit odd is 35-year old Luis Scola suiting up for Argentina the month before training camp starts. Keep in mind Valanciunas and Scola have been suiting up for years. In fact, check out what Scola’s been upto over the last decade plus:
- 2001 FIBA Americas Championship: Gold
- 2002 FIBA World Championship: Silver
- 2003 FIBA Americas Championship: Silver
- 2004 Summer Olympic Games: Gold
- 2007 FIBA Americas Championship: Silver
- 2008 FIBA Diamond Ball: Gold
- 2008 Summer Olympic Games: Bronze
- 2009 FIBA Americas Championship: Bronze
- 2011 FIBA Americas Championship: Gold
- 2013 FIBA Americas Championship: Bronze
He’s basically played every year for the national team.
For Valanciunas, it’ll give us a good chance to see how his mobility work is coming along.