Molten, the world’s leading basketball manufacturer, has renewed its sponsorship of all Great Britain Basketball’s international teams for a second term.
The deal sees the new, ground-breaking Molten G-Series basketball continue as the GB Teams’ official match and training ball from January 2009 up until October 2012, for both the senior men’s and women’s teams, as well as the Under 20 men’s and women’s teams.
For the first time ever GB Basketball’s senior men’s team has qualified for the European Basketball Championships, Eurobasket 2009, which is taking place in Poland in September. As the Molten G-Series basketball is the official match ball for this high-profile event the Molten sponsorship is significant for both parties: while the GB Teams benefit from being able to train and play with the official match ball, Molten is able to dovetail its UK basketball sponsorship programme with that of its international commitments. The Molten G-Series is currently the official ball for a number of national teams including that of the USA (current Olympic Champions), Spain (current World Champions), Russia (current European Champions) as well as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Czech Republic, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Sweden and Turkey, as well as the 2012 London Olympics.
Comments Simon Tuckey, commercial director of British Basketball:
“We are delighted that Molten has extended its partnership with British Basketball. This is a crucial time for the team as they look to perform well at the Eurobasket Championships in 2009 and in the challenges over the next four years. The extended partnership means the GB Team will be able to train and play with the Official FIBA match ball.”
Bob Hope, chairman of Molten Sports, added:
“I am delighted to renew Molten’s sponsorship of GB Basketball. I have been involved in British basketball for most of my life and am passionate about the game. To see a GB team taking part in the European Championships for the first time is going to be very exciting, while to see them playing with the Molten G-Series basketball will be better still!”
“The Molten G-Series basketball is special. Players the world over love it because of its unique 12-panel design. The additional seams (12 rather than the traditional eight) give players increased fingertip control and hence, more accurate shooting and passing. And Molten has also been able to overcome complex problems such as rebound speed in this new, innovative design as well as producing a stylish looking and highly visible ball, with its two-colour tones, of orange with cream panels. In short, this is a ball with zero trade offs, in which style, speed, control and accuracy blend into one.”
The Molten G-Series basketball is the official ball for the London Olympics in 2012 (Molten has designed and manufactured the official Olympic basketball since 1984) and is the official match ball for all FIBA competitions worldwide. In the UK and Ireland the Molten G-series is the official ball for:
• GB Team Basketball
• Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Association
• Basketball Ireland
• British Basketball League
• Basketball Wales
• English Schools Basketball Association
• Mini-Basketball England
