For Arthur Parmentier, a 28-year-old with Asperger’s who is part of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne’s One Team program, he has been able to take a big step forward thanks to the club’s work with S.A.M.S.A.H La Traboule.

A One Team success story: LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne

Asperger's syndrome is a form of autism that is mainly characterized by difficulties in social interaction and repetitive or restricted behaviors, although it does not present any delays in language or cognitive development. For Arthur Parmentier, a 28-year-old with Asperger’s who is part of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne’s One Team program, he has been able to take a big step forward thanks to the club’s work with S.A.M.S.A.H La Traboule.

Over the course of the last four years, Arthur has made sure to attend ASVEL’s One Team sessions on a Wednesday and Saturday. When Arthur first started coming to these sessions, he was not in the best physical condition and struggled with a lot of social disturbances, which made it difficult for him to connect with the other participants. He was also deeply rooted in his daily routine, often repeating the same activities, with a lot of screen time and gaming.

Therefore, encouraging Arthur to start playing basketball was not the easiest of tasks, particularly as it would result in a change to his routine. To start with, he was initially accompanied by his existing structure in order to ensure a smooth transition into the program, with those in charge understanding the importance of adapting to his needs and abilities. Not long after, Arthur was able to integrate himself into the group and create a bond with the others; now, he is an important part of the setup and the club.

By partaking in basketball thanks to ASVEL and One Team, Arthur’s physical condition has improved significantly over the last four years. He has also built strong connections with the other participants, with real friendships being born. Such has been his enjoyment in the program that he has become a volunteer at ASVEL, supporting the One Team coaches during the teenagers’ session as an assistant coach. For Arthur, this role is very important for him, and he has had a marked improvement in his delivery to a young audience.

Every Friday afternoon, Arthur shows a determination to try to be the best coach he can be. This allows him to get out of his home, in addition to the training he does during the week. As such, it is crucial that Arthur maintains a healthy lifestyle, such as reducing his screen time and eating well. During the sessions, he has been able to build empathy for the other participants and understand the negative emotions that may affect them.

Notably, Arthur and the rest of ASVEL’s One Team participants were able to fly to Munich for a special One Team trip, which was in collaboration with FC Bayern Munich. Arthur had never been on a plane and it was a real step forward for him to go far away from home without his parents in a new environment. Now, he is a success story that many will look to emulate.

ASVEL has developed its One Team program together with SESSAD (Service Éducation Social Soin A Domicile) Emile Zola and S.A.M.S.A.H La Traboule, an organization that supports young people with intellectual disabilities by helping them to better integrate through sport, accompanying them in their daily lives and assisting their parents. In the program, 65 participants aged seven to 52 participate with the common goal of learning and sharing, while also focusing on communication skills, teamwork and trust.

Overcoming personal challenges and blossoming into a key member of the community is easier said than done. Rok, a 16-year-old from Dolenjska in Slovenia, was nevertheless able to do just that, thanks in large part to the impact of Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana and its One Team program.

A One Team success story: Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana

Overcoming personal challenges and blossoming into a key member of the community is easier said than done. Rok, a 16-year-old from Dolenjska in Slovenia, was nevertheless able to do just that, thanks in large part to the impact of Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana and its One Team program.

He has been a regular attendee at the Youth Care Centre Malci Belic over the last five years, where he has been able to engage in One Team activities in each of the last two years. Back in elementary school, Rok sadly became the target of ridicule and mockery due to his failures, with his classmates often laughing at him and teasing him. His family also struggled financially, which created an instability that had a negative effect on his early years.

As a result of the financial difficulties encountered at home, Rok sometimes had to go without things that many other children took for granted, and he even went to live at the Youth Care Centre Malci Belic. That led to Rok feeling withdrawn and shy, resulting in a deep-seated anxiety about failure and a lowering of his self-esteem. Solitary activities, therefore, became his preferred choice.

Since he started to go to the Youth Care Centre Malci Belic and was introduced to Cedevita’s One Team program, he has been able to develop as an individual in a non-judgmental environment. Through One Team, Rok found a sense of belonging, something he desperately needed. Over time, he began to understand that rather than be fearful of failure, it is just part of the learning process. Thanks to the supportive environment around him during the One Team sessions, with mentors and peers on hand to provide assistance, he has started to see improvements in his social life and academic performance after gaining confidence in his abilities.

Rok also had the chance to enjoy trips alongside his peers that were put on by Cedevita, like when the club’s One Team participants went to Italy for the team’s BKT EuroCup fixture against Umana Reyer Venice. The impact of the One Team sessions continued to have a positive effect on Rok, who gradually started to approach his challenges in a different manner; rather than view them as obstacles, he used them as opportunities to grow

Such was the impact of the One Team program on Rok that he soon became a vocal advocate of the work conducted by Cedevita and the Youth Care Centre Malci Belic, actively recommending the project to everyone and tirelessly promoting it to his friends. In doing so, he epitomized the essence of One Team: fostering inclusivity, understanding, and a shared sense of adventure.

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana and Youth Care Centre Malci Belic Ljubljana have successfully worked in partnership for the club's One Team program since the 2020-21 campaign. Last season's program included eight weekly sessions and involved four to 12 people aged between seven and 13. The goal was to help young people with certain disabilities equip themselves for everyday life by using the sport of basketball to emphasize social skills, such as motivation, reliability and personal responsibility. 

The shortlisted teams and ambassadors for the 2023-24 One Team Awards

The 2023-24 season once again saw every team competing in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and BKT EuroCup put a lot of efforts into their One Team programs, so now it’s time to reward those clubs and the One Team Ambassadors that went above and beyond over the course of the campaign.

Eight clubs have been shortlisted for this year’s edition of the One Team Awards, with three prizes set to be given out during the One Team Annual Workshop in Barcelona, Spain, in September: trophies for the One Team Gold Program, the One Team Silver Program and the One Team Bronze Program.

The key elements that go into deciding the winners of these awards are the planning and delivery of the clubs’ One Team programs, the involvement of ambassadors during the sessions, as well as the marketing and communications activities that were implemented and also the participation of commercial partners.

In addition to the club-based awards, the work done by the One Team Ambassadors will also see the One Team Ambassador Award handed out. Seven ambassadors, in particular, stood out with their efforts off the court during the previous campaign, which led to a real difference being made in their teams' communities.

thinkBeyond, a social impact and sustainability consultancy that supports leaders and organizations to make a positive impact on the world, will again be involved in the judging process for the 2023-24 One Team Program Awards.

### One Team Shortlisted Teams

[Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/one-team/cazoo-baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz-one-team-program/): Baskonia celebrated the 10th anniversary of its One Team program by putting on an event that featured its current participants – 16 children aged between five and twelve who were the sons and daughters of the women supported by Gizarterako Association – and players past and present, including this year’s One Team Ambassador, Khalifa Diop.

[Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/one-team/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana-one-team-program/): Focusing on helping young people with disabilities through basketball and sport, Cedevita helped four to 12 children aged between seven and 13 who received mental health support and learned skills that were relevant to the group, while the participants were able to go to a road game against Umana Reyer Venice and take part in a One Team session with their Reyer counterparts.

[EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/one-team/ea7-emporio-armani-milan-one-team-program/): Supporting 20 at-risk children across two groups on a weekly basis, Milan put on a joint event during the Milan Marathon and were able to raise extra funds for the program’s efforts as merchandise sponsor Scalo Milano, other partners and One Team employees took part in the run, with the Italian club also praised for being very communicative while seeking new ideas and improvements.

[FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/one-team/fc-barcelona-one-team-program/): Barcelona worked with 15 to 20 men aged between 18 and 24 as it looked to support and fund the reinsertion of the center’s residents back into society by using basketball as a tool for education and learning values, with the club putting on a number of different events to aid the participants’ future employability skills, fostering respect for teammates and offering platforms for dialogue and exchange.

[LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/one-team/ldlc-asvel-villeurbanne-one-team-program/): Sixty-five participants with intellectual disabilities aged between seven and 52 were split into groups for 90-minute weekly sessions as ASVEL looked to encourage integration using sport, which was particularly clear following a video that detailed a trip to Germany that saw the participants go behind the scenes at FC Bayern Munich before seeing their team face the German side at Audi Dome.

[Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/one-team/olympiacos-piraeus-one-team-program/): Olympiacos helped 19 at-risk youth and refugees aged between nine and 12 with its program, which focused on building personal responsibility, communication skills and self-confidence, and during creative sessions put on by the One Team Coaches, they were able to learn about basketball, social skills and sustainability.

[Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/one-team/panathinaikos-athens-one-team-program/): Keen to help its participants identify their strengths and potential, Panathinaikos’s 12-week program featuring 15 participants with intellectual disabilities aged between 18 and 45 particularly focused on social skills, self-development, leadership and gender equity, with the club posting news and videos about its One Team efforts.

[Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/one-team/umana-reyer-venice-one-team-program/): Reyer supported a group of 10 to 15 refugees aged 14 to 17 when it came to integrating them into society thanks to a variety of core skills, while there was also a joint session with Cedevita’s One Team participants, the involvement of the first team female players, and local media had the chance to get to know more about the program and play with participants.

### One Team Shortlisted Ambassadors

They are all well-known for their play on the court, but the seven individuals in the running for the One Team Ambassador Award each impacted their communities and had a positive influence on the One Team participants. Below, you will see a description of what each of the nominees got up to with their respective clubs.

[Edo Muric](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/edo-muric/003515/), Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana: He went the extra mile for the participants, not only attending four sessions but leading one of his own sessions and inviting his coaches (should this be teammates?) to come and watch, which allowed them to get to know the children. He was viewed as a mentor by the participants, with Muric buying sweets for them, spending time with the children during league games and even buying presents for them around Christmas.

Gauthier Denis, Paris Basketball: He attended six sessions and was keen to promote the One Team program. The French player showed his personal side, too, sharing his life stories and delivering motivational speeches to the participants. He took part in the  exercises, acted as a coach, and reposted One Team stories on Instagram.

Gigi Datome, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan: The Italian attended three sessions, talked to the participants about his roles, and demonstrated his commitment inside and outside the court. He made videos, participated in the Milan Marathon, and joined in with the One Team Games. Additionally, he reposted One Team activities and stories on X.

[Juancho Hernangomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/juancho-hernangomez/012712/), Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens: Having received glowing feedback as an ambassador, he attended all the sessions and additional activities. He fully understood and contributed to the drills, spoke warmly about the One Team program to his teammates. On top of that, Juancho bought gifts for the participants and also gave a signed photo to One Team, all while promoting One Team on social media.

[Khalifa Diop](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/khalifa-diop/008072/), Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz: Having attended the sessions four times, he showed plenty of interest in the club’s One Team program and built a positive rapport with everyone involved. Diop even contributed gifts to the participants and shared Baskonia’s One Team activities on his personal social media account.

[Kostas Papanikolaou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kostas-papanikolaou/001255/), Olympiacos Piraeus: A One Team Ambassador for eight years, he has demonstrated his dedication to the program and was involved in four sessions. He also spread the good word of One Team to fellow teammates and on social media, in addition to partnering with Coca-Cola for a video dedicated to One Team.

[Oscar da Silva](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/oscar-da-silva/011244/), FC Barcelona: He demonstrated in-depth knowledge about the club’s program and paid a visit on five occasions. He demonstrated a genuine interest in the program and proactively conversed with the participants in the sessions. What’s more, the German player came up with a new idea to tackle food waste and also shared the message and activities of One Team on social media.

Taking advantage of the 2024 EuroLeague Final Four being in Berlin, Germany, Euroleague Basketball’s One Team program brought together several individuals from the four German clubs competing in the EuroLeague and EuroCup, as well as a Euroleague Basketball Ambassador in Patrick Femerling.

German teams’ One Team coaches unite to share ideas and experiences

Taking advantage of the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four being in Berlin, Germany, Euroleague Basketball’s One Team program brought together several individuals from the four German clubs competing in the EuroLeague and BKT EuroCup, as well as a Euroleague Basketball Ambassador in Patrick Femerling.

There was Xaver Nassermann (One Team Manager at FC Bayern Munich), Daniel Henle (One Team Manager at Veolia Towers Hamburg), Stefan Ludwig (One Team Manager at ALBA Berlin), Sharon Krilles (One Team Manager at ratiopharm Ulm), Enrico Cicmanec (One Team Coach at Ulm), and Sasha Tarasava (Women’s Team Assistant Coach at ALBA). They were able to share ideas together with Femerling and discuss the way in which One Team has affected them on an individual basis.

“What they’re giving me, this joy and this fun and being there, maybe it’s only an hour but this hour is pure,” says Femerling. “I feel like it completes me, the whole thing... When I’m done with the session or the season, it’s like a wholesome feeling for me,” added Stefan Ludwig. “For me, it’s the biggest joy to give them something from my deepest self… This is the first step you can do to build a new community, then at the end you see the result. It’s amazing, I love it,” commented Xaver Nassermann.

Despite representing rival clubs, what is clear is the pride they all show to be contributing to One Team and how much it clearly means to them. At the end of the day, they know that one thing is paramount: we are all One Team.

Representatives from four clubs came together to discuss the power of One Team

Final Four One Team in photos

Thanks to the Walk15 app, Final Four attendees were able to reduce their carbon footprint in Berlin

Basketball fans went the extra mile at the 2024 Final Four

Euroleague Basketball always encourages sustainable modes of transport in and out of the arenas, particularly at the Final Four, as thousands of fans embark upon one city. This year, in Berlin, Germany, Euroleague Basketball united with the Walk15 app once again to help basketball fans track how many steps they have done in the Walking Challenge, while the introduction of the Biking Challenge meant they could track their distance covered .

This was an invitation to basketball fans and citizens to walk to the Final Four facilities and around the world, which further allowed them to get to know the city better at the same time. This helped with ensuring individuals understood the importance to use these sustainable mobility alternatives and take action on achieving healthy habits, which have benefits for both them and the planet.

Over the course of the Final Four, the Final Four volunteers were encouraged to move around Berlin in a sustainable way through a dedicated Walking Challenge organized for them, while they were also provided with public transportation passes to be used during the event, if needed.

There were 11,142 fans from over 45 countries across the world who signed up for the Final Four sustainable mobility challenges. Altogether, they recorded 184,043,130 steps in the Walking Challenge and 11,070km in the Biking Challenge over the course of three days – from Friday, May 24, to Sunday, May 26. 

When you combine those two sets of numbers together – the combined steps from the Walking Challenge and the kilometers from the Biking Challenge – that’s the equivalent of walking and biking around the world five times, which helped save 25,066 kilograms of carbon emissions at this year's EuroLeague Final Four. Across the last two Final Fours, the initiative of One Team and #Walk15 has led to 54,539 kilograms of carbon emissions being avoided.

The EuroLeague Final Four is the perfect place for One Team to demonstrate the way in which it impacts lives all year round. Between Thursday, May 23, and Sunday, May 26, One Team hosted a series of events that positively impacted the community and good causes.

 

To kick things off, One Team put on a session for the Final Four volunteers on Thursday to help them understand just what the program represents while creating a bond between one another ahead of the event. The volunteers took part in a typical One Team session, which included five stations in which different activities were carried out by ALBA Berlin’s One Team Coaches and Manager, in addition to three Final Four Ambassadors in Joe Arlauckas, Patrick Femerling and David Rivers.

 

 

“Of the weekend that I spend here, we do so many things,” reflected Joe Arlauckas. “I always work with the volunteers on the first day and \[the Final Four Ambassadors session\] is always the last day. They’re two special days, really. \[The Final Four Ambassadors session\] is the most special for me because this is the way I started with the EuroLeague, with One Team. Every time I hear that they started in 2012 and I joined in 2014, it makes me feel more of a part of it. The most important thing is it’s a way for us to give back. Everybody talks about giving back, but sometimes there’s not a way to give back. One Team gives us that opportunity.”

 

The following day, Lisa Tetzner Schule elementary school took center stage as One Team and BKT came together to unveil a refurbished court. Once the unveiling was done, it was time for the fun to begin. The schoolkids, who are socially disadvantaged children in a socio-economically challenging environment, were able to witness a spectacular breakdancing display, before joining in for some One Team activities featuring Final Four Ambassadors Femerling and Heiko Schaffartzik. There were so many smiles on the kids’ faces, and they now have an improved basketball court that they can make the most of.

 

“The most important thing is that the kids feel great,” commented Patrick Femerling. “I think they had fun, and we always have fun. Every year we do it, every time we do it, it’s something special. We are one society and One Team.”

 

On Saturday morning, One Team took over Kraftwerk, the location for the Final Four FanZone, by putting on a session for ALBA’s One Team participants that featured players from all four Final Four clubs. Present at the event were: Juancho Hernangomez and Kostas Antetokounmpo from Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, Eli Ndiaye from Real Madrid, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul duo Nigel Hayes-Davis and Georgios Papagiannis, and Olympiacos Piraeus pair Kostas Papanikolaou and Giannoulis Larentzakis. They joined in with the on-court activities, which were led by ALBA’s One Team Coaches, then the session came to a close with an exhibition game for fun that saw the players and participants mixed together across two teams.

Championship game day saw another One Team session at Kraftwerk, only this time it featured the Final Four Ambassadors and participants from Special Olympics Germany. ALBA’s One Team Coaches once again prepared the on-court drills, with the Final Four Ambassadors and participants getting familiar with one another before an exhibition game closed the session. The playful nature of the exhibition game led to some laughs, too, as Joe Arlauckas – playing for the team in the black bibs – tried to steal any player who was making shots for the orange team, leaving Femerling and Felipe Reyes’s side shorthanded. Nevertheless, the orange team came out on top and everyone came together one last time in a circle before shouting “One Team”. Once the session had come to an end, the Final Four Ambassadors posed for photos and signed autographs for the participants from Special Olympics Germany. The Final Four Ambassadors who were present were: Joe Arlauckas, Patrick Femerling, Felipe Reyes, Ramunas Siskauskas, Jonas Maciulis, Igor Rakocevic and David Rivers.

 

“This is what it’s really all about at the end of the day, giving these kids a moment of joy where they can be active and express themselves with the ambassadors of EuroLleague One Team,” said David Rivers. “This is really what’s most important during this week, really. The games are great, but what One Team does is immeasurable, the impact it has on local communities and projects and events like this.”

 

“These types of events are very nice for us former basketball players that can play a little with the guys from Special Olympics Germany and One Team,” noted Felipe Reyes. “We are very happy to be here to spend some time having fun and, above all, seeing them so happy.”

 

“I always say that it’s a very good session, a very good event,” stated Ramunas Siskauskas. “It’s very important for everybody – for the kids, for Euroleague \[Basketball\], for us. We all are One Team, so I think these words say everything.”

 

“This participation in Euroleague \[Basketball\]’s One Team is very important,” said Jonas Maciulis. “It’s important for the kids. It’s very nice to be part of it for us as ex-players because we understand that this participation is needed. We have to give our contribution to communities.”

 

A few hours after the Final Four Ambassadors and Special Olympics Germany participants took over the court on the upper floor of Kraftwerk, another collaboration between One Team and BKT saw a bike donation event take place. The joint venture saw 30 bikes donated to ALBA Berlin’s One Team program and to Special Olympics Germany, with the aim being to encourage healthy habits and promote sustainable mobility for communities in Berlin.

 

“Thank you so much for this four-year collaboration with One Team,” said Marco Santin, sponsorships specialist at BKT. “And a special thank you to ALBA Berlin and Special Olympics for accepting the BKT bikes. We love the fact that together we are able to foster a positive and concrete change with this donation."

 

“All of this is thanks to BKT,” added Abigail Martin, Director of Sustainability and Development Projects at Euroleague Basketball. “We’ve been in partnership for four years and it’s all built on communities and everything One Team stands for. So the fact we have a partner like BKT that deeply supports our goals is amazing.”

 

Basketball fans from all over the world were able to see a couple of One Team activities during the two showpiece events on Sunday, too. First, during halftime of the ANGT Championship Game at Uber Eats Music Hall, Euroleague Basketball invited ALBA’s One Team participants to take part in a One Team drill, accompanied by one player from each ANGT participant team apart from the two finalists. They participated in an activity in front of the crowd, which allowed for a powerful and inclusive experience. The main purpose of this activation was to show to these young players the importance to be close to their local communities and become not only a professional player but also a role model.

 

Then, between the first and second quarter of the EuroLeague Championship Game at Uber Arena, ALBA’s One Team participants and athletes from Special Olympics Germany went onto the court alongside Final Four Ambassadors for an unforgettable moment of recognition and a family picture.

A number of activities took place in Berlin, Germany

One Team left its mark at the 2024 Final Four

The two have joined forces again, having worked together on a project in Athens and Istanbul over the last three seasons

One Team, BKT come together to open refurbished court in Berlin

The power of One Team grows further each year and even more so when a partner such as BKT is ready to help take things to the next level. On Friday afternoon, One Team and BKT collaborated once again to help refurbish a basketball court at Lisa-Tetzner Schule elementary school, with the aim of helping improve the lives of youngsters who are in need or at risk of exclusion.

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague club ALBA Berlin has been working with Lisa-Tetzner Schule for the last few seasons as it looks to provide support for socially disadvantaged children and young teenagers in a socio-economically challenging environment. With the Final Four coming to Berlin, One Team and BKT came together and decided to provide an improved space for locals to play.

"It's a great pleasure to be here to inaugurate this great basketball court," said Lucia Salmaso, Managing Director of BKT Europe. "When \[One Team\] decided to approach us regarding sponsorship, we could not believe the impact that this sponsorship can have on a community. I believe that BKT has demonstrated with actions these projects have a great meaning for us. This is the third project that we have created along with One Team, and it is proof that we can do better to support the growth of communities. I hope that this court will bring a lot of happiness, joy, growth and opportunity to all the kids, to all the students and to all the residents of this neighborhood."

"I'm incredibly excited and proud that we have been able to open a third refurbished court thanks to our partnership with BKT," added Abigail Martin, Director of Sustainability and Development Projects at Euroleague Basketball. "These are honestly the best days for me. I would like to give a big thank you to ALBA Berlin, to Lisa-Tetzner Schule elementary school, and to specially Lucia and the BKT team for helping to make all of this possible. These projects are one of the highlights of the Final Four, as the social work put in by many different people comes together and ends up with a lot of excited individuals, in this case children. We are so, so thankful for everyone's efforts and we would love to have more of these community-committed projects in the future."

During Friday’s event, the participants took part in some One Team drills and featured in an exhibition tournament that was held by ALBA’s One Team Coaches. Former ALBA center Patrick Femerling, who played for the club over three spells and won a EuroLeague title with FC Barcelona in 2003, was present at the event, as was four-year former EuroLeague guard Heiko Schaffartzik. They both joined in with the activities with the children and were delighted with the work done by One Team.

"It was a lot of fun because the kids had a lot of fun," commented Heiko Schaffartzik. "The only reason why the kids could have fun is because the court exists. Without the court, the kids wouldn't be able to have this experience. Patrick Femerling is here and the EuroLeague is here. Next week they will not be, but the court will still be here, so they can still have fun and play by themselves. They're very enthusiastic kids here, they're really competitive and they really enjoy playing basketball, so this is a fantastic thing for the community."

This is the third straight year in which One Team and BKT have gone hand in hand to refurbish a court and help the community as a result, having improved the Kypseli court in Athens and given children there a new home where they can play basketball and have fun with friends. Also, in the 2021-22 season, the partnership between One Team and BKT saw the refurbishment of two courts at the TEB Atasehir Anatolian High School, the social partner of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul for that season.

In addition to giving back to Berlin by helping to take this basketball court to another level, One Team is also putting on a session featuring Final Four players at Kraftwerk on Saturday and Sunday, which will feature some of the biggest names at the Final Four, along with the participation of the Final Four Ambassadors.

One of the best parts about Final Four weekend – apart from the basketball on the court – is when the players from the four clubs come along to enjoy a One Team session. This year, that took place at the FanZone on Saturday morning, with plenty of fans also present to see some of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague’s biggest stars join forces with the One Team participants from ALBA Berlin.

Final Four stars thrilled One Team participants at the FanZone

One of the best parts about Final Four weekend – apart from the basketball on the court – is when the players from the four clubs come along to enjoy a One Team session. This year, that took place at the FanZone on Saturday morning, with plenty of fans also present to see some of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague’s biggest stars join forces with the One Team participants from ALBA Berlin.

Enjoying the activities were Juancho Hernangomez and Kostas Antetokounmpo from Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, Eli Ndiaye from Real Madrid, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul duo Nigel Hayes-Davis and Georgios Papagiannis, and Olympiacos Piraeus pair Kostas Papanikolaou and Giannoulis Larentzakis.

The players joined ALBA’s One Team participants for some One Team drills that were led by ALBA’s One Team coaches, which instantly brought lots of smiles to everyone’s faces.

“It’s always good to give back and do nice things, to try to be a face, a pillar in the community, an inspiration and try to spread joy,” said Nigel Hayes-Davis. “It’s always good to get out and do something like this. The main goal is to make sure the kids enjoy themselves, and I think they had a good time today. They were playing basketball with people they watch play on TV. Perhaps some of the kids look up to some of us as idols or some of their favorite players, so to be able to get out there and interact with them, take pictures, play games is hopefully an experience that will inspire them and be something that they’ll remember and enjoy.” 

Once all the drills had finished, an exhibition game took place as the Final Four players were split between the two teams, with ALBA’s One Team participants also being split across the two teams. The kids were able to receive passes from their favorite places and try to score, or vice versa. The stuff of dreams!

“I’m really happy that I could take part \[today\],” noted Juancho Hernangomez. “I’ve had a really good year \[assisting with One Team\] with my team, Panathinaikos, and it’s truly an honor for me to help. I’m really glad, really happy. It fills me with joy, I love doing things to help people. Even just being with them in a photo, a video is something great for them. To bring a smile to their faces is the best feeling there is.”

ALBA’s One Team program this season aims to support socially disadvantaged children and young teenagers from the Lisa-Tetzner-Schule elementary school, which is located in a socio-economically challenging area of Berlin.

“You can see how much everyone enjoys it – from the players to the kids,” commented Kostas Papanikolaou. “It’s an amazing thing, it’s an amazing initiative. It started many years ago and still up to this day, it provides a lot of smiles, a lot of good things for everyone. I really, really enjoy being here and participating in these events.”

The One Team program implemented by ALBA is embedded in the club’s nationwide SPORT VERNETZT initiative, a project which seeks to bring the community together and help them develop an excitement for physical activities, as well as use basketball as a tool to focus on teamwork, integration, motivation communication and tolerance.

“It’s incredible that we can help the kids, that they enjoy themselves with us and that they can play with us,” added Eli Ndiaye. “It’s an honor to share this experience with them. The truth is that that it’s great as the kids get to have fun in an incredible way.”

 Members from all four clubs attended on Saturday morning