Kemzura out with Latvia, in the running for Lithuania job


Kemzura out with Latvia, in the running for Lithuania job
Kestutis Kemzura (Photo: FIBA.com)
20-10-2009 09:49

Kestutis Kemzura could be emerging as the favorite to coach Lithuania’s national side after turning down a chance to remain as Latvia boss.

The Lithuanian tactician coached the Latvians at this year’s EuroBasket in Poland and was offered a chance to continue in the role, despite the national team’s failure to advance from the Qualifying Round.

Kemzura was supposed to inform the country’s federation by October 15 at the latest if he intended to remain in the job but apparently did not.

Latvia will now announce a new list of candidates on November 3 and the next coach, they say, will be a Latvian.

As for Kemzura, Lithuania Basketball Federation president Vladas Garastas named him, Rimas Kurtinaitis and former national team boss Jonas Kazlauskas as the three candidates to replace Ramunas Butautas who stepped down after the EuroBasket.

Kazlauskas is tied to Greece through the 2010 FIBA World Championship, however.

Kemzura previously coached BC Khimki and before that was an assistant to Antanas Sireika with Lithuania, and to David Blatt at Benetton Treviso.

The failure of Latvia and Lithuania to achieve a top-six finish at the EuroBasket has left both needing a wild card if they are going to play at the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

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