Preparation for the eighth FIBA European Promotion Cup

The Malta national basketball men`s team will be taking part in the sixth Kinnie International Series as a preparation for the eighth FIBA European Promotion Cup. This year`s Kinnie International Series will be held between June 7 and 9 at the Ta` Qali Basketball Pavilion.

The Malta Basketball Association (MBA) has adopted a new format for this year`s series. Grifone Catania, an Italian Serie C team, will serve as a sparring partner for the Maltese selection in view of the European Promotion Cup which Malta will be hosting between June 11 and 15.

The sparring concept will provide training sessions for the Maltese team, who will be playing two games: one on Friday at 7.30 p.m. (Malta- Grifone Catania) with the second game scheduled for Saturday at 5 p.m.(Grifone Catania-Malta)

On Sunday, June 9, the two teams will hold a joint training session at 11 a.m. The Kinnie Series has now become an integral part of the local sporting calendar. The event, now in its sixth edition, is held annually after the end of the National League.

Past participating foreign teams include: Dayton Flyers in 1997; Creighton University in 1998; the University of Akron in 1999; the American University team, Marshalls, and the White Eagles from Yugoslavia in 2000 and the Sicily Selection in 2001.

Claire Carey, Kinnie Brand Executive, said: "Over the last years, Kinnie has been closely associated with basketball and once again we are sponsoring the Kinnie International Series. This sponsorship is an ideal opportunity for our national players to familiarise themselves with new schemes which they can put to test against a foreign team."