February 28th – March 6th Netherlands basketball academy RTC Noord was visiting Lithuania. Four teams spent seven days here in basketball country. During this time, Dutch played games, had practices with Lithuanian coaches, visited “Žalgiris” arena, wached Euroleague game and relaxed in pool.
With the Basketball Academy RTC Noord from Groningen http://basketballrtcnoord.nl/we travelled to Kaunas to have a basketball training camp for a full week. 5 practices and 4 games in 6 days for our 4 teams, 46 players and 6 coaches. We also had the chance to see other teams at work in practices and games. It will certainly remain a long-lasting memory for all the players, but also for the coaches. In this basketball-Mekka basketball is larger than life, and it is like that since many decades. Since the first time that Lithuania won the European Championship in 1939, basketball has been the most popular sport by far in this little country at the Baltic sea. Like the Netherlands is connected to Soccer and how it is integrated in our Dutch lifestyle and society, maybe basketball is even better indrained in the genes and backbone of the people and society of Lietuva.” – this is an excerpt from article of BA RTC Noord coach Hein Gerd Triemsta.
More about Dutches visit to Lithuania and thoughts return to Netherlands can read at H.G. Triemsta linked.in profile.