Real Madrid basketball side to play in China

MADRID, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The champions of the Spanish Endesa ACB Basketball League, Real Madrid have announced they will play an exhibition game in China in October as part of a campaign by the Euroleague to strengthen the image of that competition in the country.

Real Madrid will play the Beijing Ducks in a game that the Spanish club also hopes will help build a relationship and help an exchange of experience between the European and Asian game.

This will be carried out with promotional events with Chinese fans, practice sessions which will be shared with players and coaches and of course, visits to some of the most famous sites in China.

As well as winning the Spanish basketball league, which is considered to be one of the most important in the world after the glamor of the NBA, Real Madrid enjoyed a magnificent campaign in Europe, where the club coached by Pablo Laso reached the final of the Final Four of the Euroleague, before losing the final to Greek side, Olympiacos Piraeus .

They will become the fourth European side to visit China to face a Chinese side and follow in the footsteps of CSKA Moscow and Benetton Treviso, who made the trip in 2007 to play a competition held in Shanghai. Meanwhile the German side, Alba Berlin played some pre-season matches in China in 2011.

Meanwhile last summer saw Beijibg coach Min Lulei pay a visit to Spain to learn from local coaches with Real Madrid one of the sides he spent some time with.

The Euroleague website highlights the fact that the competition is growing in popularity in China with two games broadcast live each werk on Guangdong TV and Letv, while the Final Four was shown on national network CCTV.

"We are very proud that one of the best-known clubs in the world, Real Madrid, will be representing Euroleague Basketball in Beijing next October," Jordi Bertomeu, Euroleague Basketball President and CEO said.

"Chinese fans will get to see up close not only the Turkish Airlines Euroleague runner-up from last season, but also one of the most exciting basketball teams in the world. This game is another step in our growing relationship with Chinese basketball," he added, while Real Madrid were also delighted to be able to take part in the visit.

"It is a unique opportunity to extend even more the club's image and our basketball to a country with such impressive potential at all levels."

"It will be an enriching experience that foments the mutual understanding between Chinese and Spanish basketball. It's the first time that Real Madrid plays a game in China, and to have this opportunity now is an honor for us," said Juan Carlos Sanchez, the club's Basketball Director.

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