MADRID - A second season of the Liga Jr NBA-FEB has tipped off in Spain with an opening ceremony that had NBA commissioner David Silver in attendance.

Spain's 2006 FIBA Basketball World Cup winner Jorge Garbajosa, who played in the NBA with the Toronto Raptors, served as the master of ceremonies at El Colegio Nuestra Senora del El Pilar in Madrid.

The Liga Jr NBA-FEB is a project aim at growing the popularity of the sport for youngsters.

The league for 11- and 12-year-olds had a total of 90 schools and 1,300 players in its debut season in Madrid, Zaragoza and Barcelona.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who attended the opening day festivities, said he is "excited to once again partner with the Spanish Federation (FEB) to further grow basketball in Spain through the Liga Jr NBA-FEB."

Silver also called the league "a great way for children to improve their skills in a program based on the values of the game that include integrity, respect, teamwork and healthy lifestyle, values that are fundamental to become model citizens off the court."

Each team in the competition has its players wear shirts with the name of one of the 30 NBA teams.

More than 400 game were played in the debut season and there were three champions: Colegio Brains/Phoenix Suns (Madrid), Doctor Azua/San Antonio Spurs (Zaragoza) and Manyanet Mollins/Detroit Pistons (Barcelona). 

Schools were very happy with how the opening season went.

FEB President Jose Luis Saez along with the CEO of NBA Spain, Jesus Bueno, and Spain men's national team coach Sergio Scariolo all attended the opening day ceremony for the second Liga Jr NBA-FEB season.

FIBA