Portugal's Joao Soares will this summer compete for his country at the U20 European Championship Division B in Sarajevo but just like every other basketball fan in the Iberian country, he'll have one eye on Moncho Lopez's senior team as it attempts to claim the last remaining spot on offer at EuroBasket 2009 in Poland via the Additional Qualifying Round.
It was cold outside but the thoughts of the European basketball community were on the summer this afternoon in Freising, Germany where the draw was held for the 2009 FIBA Europe Youth Competitions.
Officials from across the continent gathered to learn the path their youth national teams will take if they hope to grace the medal podium at this summer's youth championships.
The draw for FIBA Europe's 2009 Youth Competitions will take place this Saturday, 31st January in Freising, Germany.
The draw will determine the groups for the 14 men's and women's youth tournaments that will take place this summer across Europe. That total consists of six A Division championships, six B Division championships and two C Division championships, both at the U18 level.
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