After TOP European’s success last year in its first edition, the U16-M tournament will take place again in Platja d’Aro between April 14thand 17th.
The second edition will gather six top teams from six different countries. Four of them already took part in last year’s competition such as FC Barcelona (Catalonia), Zalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania), Apollo Amsterdam (Netherlands) and the Czech national team. The two novelties are Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany) and the Palm Beach Gardens Starzz (United States).
Barcelona U16 is the host team and the youth academy of a powerful European team, which this year has won the Spanish Cup, currently leads the League and will play the Euroleague playoffs. Another youth academy is Zalgiris Kaunas U16, who won last year’s tournament under the name of Sabonis BC. The first team, coached by Sarunas Jasikevicius, classified for the playoffs in the last regular season game.
The Eurocup team, Ratiopharm Ulm will make its debut to TOP European, although they have played in Costa Brava Girona Basket several times, and, in fact, they are the prevailing champions of the CBGB U16-M group. The other rookie will be the American high school Palm Beach Gardens Starzz, from the state of Florida.
Last year’s finalist Apollo Amsterdam and the Czech national team, which will bring the best talent in the country, complete the bracket.