By John Henderson, For The Orange County Register
PRIENAI, Lithuania — Some things in Lithuanian basketball can get lost in translation. The fans blow horns. The cheerleaders dance to Lithuanian folk songs. The pro basketball arena seats 1,500 in a town of under 10,000.
However, some aspects transcend cultural boundaries and international datelines. Take 19-year-old LiAngelo and 16-year-old LaMelo Ball. The unproven basketball prospects and proven social media pop stars from Chino Hills didn’t need translators for the packed house in their pro debut here Tuesday night.
LaMelo throws a behind-the-back pass on a fast break, and the crowd explodes.