Plymouth Raiders have signed a co-operation deal with Spanish side Unicaja Malaga.

The alliance will see young players coming from Spain to Plymouth.

Unicaja play in their country's top division and reached the last 16 of the Euro League, basketball's equivalent of football's Champions League.

"Raiders must look and see how the sport has grown to such a degree in Europe," said Plymouth vice-chairman Damon Lenszner.

"I watched Unicaja play Partizan Belgrade in the last 16 of Euro-League.

"They lost in overtime but the experience showed me where British Basketball could be in the next 20 years.

"They play in an 8,500 seat arena which is sold out in season tickets and they have a waiting list of 3,000 people."

The Raiders have ambitions to play in Europe, having had permission from the basketball authorities to play in the EuroChallenge, the sport's equivalent of football's Uefa Cup, if they qualify this season.

This is a small first step but a vitally important one that we will be able to learn so much from Damon Lenszner

And Lenszner believes the deal, which will see coaches going to Spain to gain experience and young players coming to Plymouth to improve their English and education, will be vital for the club.

"This is a small first step but a vitally important one that we will be able to learn so much from," he said.

"The Spanish League is now recognised as the second best league in the world.

"To have the opportunity of forming an alliance with a top club like Malaga is something we have to use to the best of our advantage."

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