Euroleague Junior Tournament with Žalgiris and Lietuvos Rytas teams will take place in Šiauliai
Lithuanian basketball fans will be able to see the qualification stage of the Euroleague junior (under 18 years) competition this season. Young players of Žalgiris won the tournament organized in Kaunas in February this year, and eight teams of juniors will compete in Šiauliai on 25th–27th January 2013 in order to get to the final tournament.
Juniors of both leading Lithuanian teams will also play in Šiauliai Arena. Young basketball players of Lietuvos Rytas will defend their title as the Champions of Euroleague Junior Tournament which they won in Istanbul this year, and juniors of Žalgiris were only one step from the great final last season.
Besides Lithuanian teams, the following teams will send their juniors to Šiauliai: CSKA Moscow, Khimky Moscow Region (both from Russia), VEF Riga (Latvia), Audentes Tallinn (Estonia), ENBW Ludwigsburg (Germany) and Topsportschool Leuven (Belgium).
“We are happy that Lithuanian basketball fans will be able to see again the best junior players of our country“, says Paulius Motiejūnas, Managing Director of Lithuanian Basketball Federation. “It is important, that as many as possible tournaments take place in our country and all arenas are occupied. I hope that residents of Šiauliai are yearning for international basketball events and will support the best young talents of Lithuania“.
Euroleague Junior Tournament is supported by INTER RAO Lietuva, one of the largest independent suppliers of electricity in Lithuania. The company is the general sponsor of the competition.
“Lithuania and basketball are like synonyms in the world. Both the real stars and the young talents give lustre to Lithuania internationally. We appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the possibility to see the best European young basketball players playing in our country“, says Giedrius Balčiūnas, Managing Director of INTER RAO Lietuva.
Only the winners of competition in Šiauliai will get to the final stage of Euroleague Junior Tournament. They will compete for the title of absolute champions during the Euroleague Final Four in London on 10th–12th May.