Indiantelevision.com Team

(28 June 2007 6:44 pm)

MUMBAI: Nike and Euroleague Basketball have announced a five-year partnership to make Nike the official basketball supplier for Euroleague competition.

The league's 24 teams and ULEB Cup's 54 teams will be playing with the Nike 4005 Tournament Ball for the 2008 season, as well as a series of pre-season events, including the Euroleague China Tour in October.

"The partnership with Euroleague Basketball will further strengthen our connection to the global game of basketball," said Nike Europe Middle East and Africa basketball GM Jim Savino. "We look forward to bringing together our 35 years of basketball heritage and design expertise with Euroleague's talented players and passionate fans," he said.

The 4005 Tournament ball will tip-off in its first official Euroleague play at the ULEB Summer League this weekend in Jesolo, Italy.

The basketball's 4-panel design utilizes less
converging lines so the shooter can place his or her hands in the optimal shooting position quickly. The panel material is composite leather with a microfiber backer that keeps sweat from collecting on the surface of the ball for a sure handle and soft touch, states an official press release.

"We are excited to announce this new pan-European partnership, bringing the best of European basketball to the top of professional enterprise. Thanks to the application and hard work from many teams and leagues, we are today able to broker such a deal," said Euroleague Basketball CEO Jordi Bertameu.