TAMPERE (EuroBasket 2015) - Frenkie and the Nikolai Semashko Trophy tipped off a busy August over the weekend as the starting date for the biggest basketball event in Europe this year creeps ever closer.

August began with a trip to Tampere, Finland, over the weekend, where Frenkie and the trophy were greeted by the 'Susijengi' (Wolf Pack, the name given to the Finnish team and their supporters) who invited them to partake in some traditional Finnish customs, including a sauna.

The pair were also in attendance on Saturday for Finland sold-out warm up game against defending champions and Final Phase hosts, France. In front of 7,282 members of the Wolf Pack, the Finns came out prowling, holding on for a memorable 76-67 victory.

"We really appreciate the fact that FIBA was part of a weekend to be remembered," an ecstatic Finnish captain Shawn Huff explained following the memorable victory.

"It was such an honour to host FIBA, the Trophy and the reigning European Champions France for the weekend and offer that experience to our amazing fans.

"Naturally the fact that we were able to top the weekend with the win over France, made things a bit sweeter."

President of the Finnish Basketball Association, Antti Zitting, was just as praiseworthy in his words following the successful stop.

"FIBA is doing tremendous work in promoting its flagship events and conducting operations in participating countries.

"Last year we had the privilege to host the FIBA World Cup Trophy Tour in Helsinki and this year the EuroBasket Trophy Tour in Tampere.

"Events like these are deepening the basketball culture everywhere and creating buzz towards the upcoming Championships.

"We had such amazing weekend in Tampere and the fans are ready to go even though there is still a month to go until the start of the EuroBasket."

Frenkie and the Trophy travel on to Ljubljana - the sight of the previous EuroBasket Final Round - on Tuesday, before moving onto Poland's capital, Warsaw, a day later.

There will be a short break before the Trophy Tour resumes in The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (MKD) on Saturday.

Go to eurobasket2015.org for complete coverage of EuroBasket 2015.

FIBA