Arturs Strautins, Dominik Olejniczak and Joonas Riismaa called up to the national team
The Lions' experience at the Frecciarossa Final Eight 2026 has concluded final against EA7 Emporio Armani Milano, national team basketball returns, with three players called up and one reserve at home among the ranks of Mario Fioretti's team for this February and March window.
In addition to Tommaso Baldasso, captain of Bertram Derthona Tortona and reserve at home available to Luca Banchi and his staff - which also includes the Juventus assistant coach Iacopo Squarcina - for the two 2027 World Cup Qualifying matches against Great Britain, there are three Lions in the national team.
Two of them will compete in both matches scheduled for their respective countries: Dominik Olejniczak (Poland) and Arturs Strautins (Latvia), who will be protagonists in the matches that will be played in Riga (27/02 at 18:30) and Gdynia (01/03 at 20:30).
In Group F, Poland is currently undefeated with two wins out of two, while Latvia boasts a 1-1 record. Upon returning to international basketball after a long injury layoff in 2025, Arturs Strautins will look to lead his team against his teammate in Tortona.
Joonas Riismaa will also be playing for Estonia in this 2027 World Cup qualifying window. The Estonians will face Sweden in a double-header, first in Stockholm (February 27, 7:00 PM) and then in Tallinn (March 1, 6:00 PM). Estonia holds a 1-1 record in Group H.
After the break, Derthona will return to the court on March 8th at 18:00 PM against Vanoli Basket Cremona to continue their league campaign. The following week, the Bianconeri will rest, before another home match on March 22nd, against Acqua S. Bernardo Cantù.
