体坛英语新闻：American Ball brothers report to Lithuanian basketball club

VILNIUS, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Lithuanian basketball club Vytautas based in Prienai welcomed two American players from controversially famous Ball family, the club announced on its Facebook profile on Thursday.

"Yesterday was a big day," the club wrote referring to the arrival of LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball to Lithuania on Wednesday evening.

The two basketball players are accompanied in Lithuania by their outspoken father and sports apparel company Big Baller Brand founder LaVar Ball.

"We are very happy to be here. We are opening a new chapter in our lives," LaVar Ball was quoted as saying on the family's arrival to Vilnius International Airport in a statement released by LKL, Lithuanian Basketball League.

"I was expecting to freeze here but I am hot as I am burning," LaVar Ball was quoted as joking given usually chilly January weather in Lithuania.

The players aren't expected to debut until January 9, when their new team welcomes Tsmoki Minsk in the Baltic Basketball League, LKL said.

The 19-year-old LiAngelo and his 16-year-old brother LaMelo are the younger brothers of Los Angeles Lakers player Lonzo Ball. Neither of the two brothers has experience of professional basketball.

The members of Ball family are media celebrities in the US, due to their Facebook reality show Ball in the Family. LaMelo Ball claims to have more than 3 million of followers on Instagram.

A team of the show arrived to Lithuania together with the two players in order to continue shooting in the Baltic country, local media announced.

The brothers Ball will reside in luxury amenities at Vytautas Mineral SPA hotel located in Birstonas, a small resort town in Prienai area.

LiAngelo Ball was expected to play at UCLA earlier, however, withdrew from the school in December following the incident in China where he was arrested with charges of shoplifting along with two teammates.

The leadership of BC Vytautas acknowledged earlier that popularity on social networks of LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball, rather than expectations as regards their future sports achievements, was the main reason to invite the two players to the Lithuanian team.