July 24-- Basketball Without Borders Europe began on Saturday as fifty players from 26 different countries descended on Treviso, Italy. The players checked in, got split up into teams, and immediately began scrimmaging. These 16-18 year olds play on professional club teams in their native countries, and are excited to be at the camp.

July 24-27, 2004 Treviso, Italy La Ghirada Sport Center (Benetton)

"I'm quite excited," said Yoni Shiefer, a 17-year-old from Israel. "I will be playing against players much better than me. It's another opportunity to learn stuff and improve my basketball."

A few of the players are repeat visitors to Basketball Without Borders, but most are here for the first time. During the camp they will get the opportunity to be taught by NBA coaches and current and former players.

"Basketball in Spain is my favorite, but I like the NBA game. It's very spectacular," said Marc Fernandez, a 17-year-old from Spain. His roomate at the camp, Marc Rubio Vives from Barcelona, is looking forward to improving his game. "Defense and shooting is what I'm working on," Rubio Vives said.

Scrimmage play began in Italy on Saturday

Martynas Pocius, an 18-year-old from Lithuania currently plays high school basketball in the United States, and has become a Celtics' fan. He was placed on a team coached by current Celtic Jiri Welsch.

"I live near Boston, so I follow the Celtics," Pocius, who plays for a high school in Plymouth, New Hampshire. "I've been to one Celtics game and I've seen Jiri Welsch. It's exciting to meet him in person."

Having played extensively in both the U.S. and Europe, Pocius notices differences in how the game is played. "The US game is more individual. Over here, it's more of a team game."

In Treviso, the European players will get for some, their first taste of American basketball.