Rome readies NBA Europe Live repeat
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 Rome was the scene on Thursday of a press conference to officially present plans for NBA Europe Live to make a second stop in that city for games involving local Euroleague Basketball team Virtus Lottomatica Roma next fall. NBA Europe Live 2007 will feature two games as well as a training camp by the NBA's Boston Celtics between October 1 and 7. Lottomatica will face off with the Toronto Raptors and their Italian import, former Euroleague Rising Star trophy winner Andrea Bargnani, on October 7 at PalaLottomatica, one night after Boston and Toronto play each other in the same arena.
Among the officials on-hand in Rome for the presentation were Rome mayor Walter Veltroni, NBA vice-president international Andrew Messick, Euroleague Basketball TV Director Andrea Bassani, Virtus Roma president Claudio Toti, Lega Basket president Enrico Pradi and playing legend Robert Parish.
"Of course, we are happy once again to have Lottomatica Roma representing Euroleague Basketball in such a special event as NBA Europe Live," Andrea Bassani, Euroleague Basketball's International Relations and TV Director, said at the press conference. "It was special the first time, and with the way that Lottomatica's fans embraced this event, we know they will be proud to have their team included again in what is an unprecedented world basketball showcase."
The game played last October 6 between Lottomatica and the Phoenix Suns drew over 11,000 people. The mayor on Thursday expressed his satisfaction that NBA will return to Rome in 2007 as the only city to repeat as host of the event.
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Euroleague.net
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