EuroBasket 1946

Lithuania, whose Lithuania men's national basketball team has won the EuroBasket 1939, during the World War II has faced three military occupations, firstly by the Soviets in June 1940, then by the Germans in November 1941 and again was re-occupied and annexed by the Soviet Union in 1944, therefore the reigning European champion Lithuania men's national basketball team was dissolved. Lithuanian diplomat Stasys Antanas Bačkis, who has resided in liberated France and continued to represent the Independent Lithuania's Diplomatic Service, invited representatives of the Lithuanian diaspora, ordered outfits of the Lithuania men's national basketball team and the team (which was considered by many contemporary experts as the Europe's strongest) began to prepare for the EuroBasket 1946. However, the Soviet Union strictly protested against the Lithuanian national team's participation in the championship and the FIBA yielded to its pressure, not allowing the Lithuanians to independently compete and to try defend their European title at the EuroBasket 1946. ==Results==

The 1946 competition consisted of a preliminary round, with one group of four teams and two groups of three teams each. Each team played the other teams in its group once. The top team in each of the groups of three and the top two teams in the group of four played in the semifinals for the top four rankings; the middle teams in the two groups of three moved directly on to the final round for a 5th/6th place playoff; the bottom team in each group of three and the two bottom teams in the group of four played in semifinals for the 7th–10th ranks. First round Group A Group B Group C Final round The middle team of each of the groups of three did not compete in the final round, as they advanced directly to the 5th/6th place playoff. The top team of each of those groups played one of the top two teams of the group of four, with rankings 1st–4th at stake. Similarly, the bottom team in each group of three played one of the two lower teams in the group of four in a semifinal for 7th–10th places. Brackets Classification 5th–10th Upper bracket ==Final standings==

• • • • • • • • • • ==Team rosters==

1. Czechoslovakia: Ivan Mrázek, Miloš Bobocký, Jiří Drvota, Josef Ezr, Gustav Hermann, Jan Hluchy, Josef Křepela, Pavel Nerad, Ladislav Simácek, František Stibitz, Josef Toms, Ladislav Trpkoš, Emil Velenský, Miroslav Vondráček (Coach: Frantisek Hajek) 2. Italy: Cesare Rubini, Giuseppe Stefanini, Sergio Stefanini, Albino Bocciai, Mario Cattarini, Marcello de Nardus, Armando Fagarazzi, Giancarlo Marinelli, Valentino Pellarini, Tullio Pitacco, Venzo Vannini 3. Hungary: François Németh, Geza Bajari, Antal Bankuti, Geza Kardos, Laszlo Kiralyhidi, Tibor Mezőfi, György Nagy, Geza Racz, Ede Vadaszi, Ferenc Velkei (Coach: Istvan Kiraly) 4. France: Robert Busnel, André Buffière, Etienne Roland, Paul Chaumont, René Chocat, Jean Duperray, Emile Frezot, Maurice Girardot, Andre Goeuriot, Henri Lesmayoux, Jacques Perrier, Lucien Rebuffic, Justy Specker, Andre Tartary (Coach: Paul Geist) ==References==