VILNIUS (2010 FIBA World Championship) – Former Latvia coach Kestutis Kemzura has taken charge of Lithuania’s national team after agreeing to personal terms with the country’s basketball federation.

Kemzura has replaced Ramunas Butautas, who resigned after Lithuania’s Qualifying Round exit at the EuroBasket in Poland.

As Lithuania will host EuroBasket 2011, they do not need to go through qualifying but Kemzura could lead the national side in official competition as early as next year if the country receives a wild card to play at the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

FIBA will announce in mid-December which four countries are to receive wild cards.

Kemzura, who is Lithuanian, served as the coach of BC Khimki Moscow Region in Russia until leaving the club early last season.

Before that, he was an assistant coach to Lithuania boss Antanas Sireika at EuroBasket 2005 and at the 2006 FIBA World Championship.

He also worked alongside Russia boss David Blatt when the latter was the head coach of Dynamo St Petersburg and Benetton Treviso.

FIBA