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It was a difficult task for the Senior Men as they faced off with Ireland and Scotland in Edinburgh for Celtic Cup bragging rights.

It was truly a David and Goliath encounter, Ireland have recently appointed US Coach Pete Strickland and are aiming for FIBA Small countries glory in 2018. Meanwhile Scotland have been awarded £250,000 of funding by Sport Scotland to prepare for the Commonwealth Games in Australia next year.

So how did it go…?

Wales v Ireland

On Friday evening Scotland cruised to an 82-58 win over Ireland, our first opponents on Saturday afternoon.

It was clearly a nervy start for Wales as we failed to convert several good opportunities and Ireland punished us by taking a 10-point cushion. We fought back behind hot shooting from James Dawe but a sloppy 7-0 run before halftime gave Ireland a comfortable 18-point lead. We couldn’t generate the stops or scoring to claw back into the game and Ireland ran out winners 85-55.

Wales v Scotland

On Sunday, the young side attempted to regroup but faced a mammoth task against a Scotland side led by GB captain Kieron Achara. Despite this we started the game in a much more assertive fashion even taking a small lead 5-2…it would be short lived, as Scotland landed a barrage of threes. Despite continued good play Scotland led 28-17 after the first quarter. The game slipped away in similar fashion to Ireland with the hosts punishing sloppy play and pull out a 50-25 halftime advantage.

With the game out of sight, both coaches rotated their benches and Scotland ran out impressive victors 108-44.

We created an awful lot of open shots, but with many of the guys so hyped up we couldn’t knock them down. I take a lot of confidence in this group for the long term from how we responded in the first 15 minutes against Scotland. The players were much calmer and more professional pre-game, saving more of their physical and mental energy for the tip off. This showed their ability to learn from our experiences and make adjustments.

In that first period, we played some excellent offensive basketball but it was tough to be in Scotland’s gym where their players know the rims and the officials know the players. So, despite what I felt was a really strong performance we still found ourselves down 27-17. We held on nicely until 5 minutes into the second period when our own error led to a 5-point swing and we don’t yet have the mental skills to remain calm and focused and stick to our game plan.

As the wheels came off the performance levels did drop and the score got away from us in the second half. I would again take away the positives of the first 15 minutes and the knowledge that if we tighten up our rotations on defence and sustain the focus and confidence we brought during that period we will become a good international side.

Reflections from the Head Coach

Firstly, I want to thank the players for being committed to the National Team program in the build up to this tournament. They have helped secure a future for the senior men program with their commitment, hard work and willingness to grow. They have self-funded the program which has a £750 budget for the year and I am extremely proud of the team and program we have run.

These performances and results must be viewed as our first steps, our yardstick for where we are now. When you have seven players from the U23s making their international debut nerves were always going to be a factor, and despite feeling we had the talent level to compete with Ireland, anytime you dig yourselves a 10-point hole to start a game it’s always going to be tough. However, despite the result I intend to take away the positives as we move forward.

Jamie Rodwell after a tough start absolutely showed me that he is an international class player right now. Anytime you can record 16 points and 12 rebounds in a game you are doing well. James Dawe also knocked down some tough shots under pressure and is now also well established at international level.

Mathew Broderick was excellent versus GB level competition he had 6 points and 6 rebounds in 20 minutes on court, and at 19 years old and 6’9 he gives us another nice piece to build around. Gareth Williams was also impressive despite being undersized at the 4.  He is a real bull and had the ability to knock down shots so that gives us a solid frontline with Rodwell to build around. We also had flashes of good play from all three of our young PGs they all have areas of their game they need to work on and need to gain more experience but over the next 2 seasons I believe all 3 can develop into strong contributors. We also have Nico Pele Wilson and Asa Waite who as he gets more comfortable with what we are asking him to do is going to be a real handful for most teams.

On a personal level

This weekend was also useful from my personal perspective, I’ve been beating the drum that we need to play international tests so we can properly evaluate where we are now.

I must put my hands up and say that we weren’t prepared to the level I would have liked especially if this tournament is viewed as our competitive focus. I have seen some criticism on social media sites and I can understand, given the results, that we have to accept this but I would ask people to understand the upside to our squad in terms of its training age and the difference in resources between us and the programs in Scotland and Ireland.

I totally believe in this young group of men that they can compete and do something special for Welsh basketball but they needed more time on court together both on the practice floor and in warm up games. Within the squad I think we have a good understanding that this was our first step and we will now meet as a group and come up with some goals and evaluate how we try to get to the performance level we want to be at over the coming year. We have a camp planned for next month and we are in the process of finalising a trip to play another FIBA Small Countries team which should give us a chance to grow on the road and hopefully be more competitive.

Finally, I want to thank our hosts at Basketball Scotland who were fantastic throughout and very generous in their support of our involvement also Basketball Ireland for sending their squad to the tournament. We met some very nice people and we hope the Celtic Clash can be a regular fixture in the calendar.

If any companies or individuals would like to support the Senior Men National program please email walthom3@aol.com

British Basketball, Basketball Scotland and Basketball Wales Announce Partnership with Sports Hydration Experts iPro Sport

In a first of its kind commercial relationship for basketball in Britain, three of the sports National Governing Bodies have pooled their efforts and secured a new hydration and sports drink partnership with iPro Sport.

British Basketball, Basketball Scotland and Basketball Wales have come together to team up with one of the most innovative suppliers of hydration products to help improve athlete and team performance.

iPro Sport has been chosen as the Preferred Hydration Drinks Partner to all three basketball organisations and their elite players.

The partnership will be underpinned by product support, gifting of equipment and resources together with hydration and nutritional messaging targeted at grassroots development through to podium competition within each of the three partnering basketball communities in the UK.

British Basketball Chief Executive, Lisa Wainwright, commented;

“We are delighted to welcome iPro Sport to our family of commercial partners. They are such an innovative company, who have sport and athletes at the heart of what they do. It is a ground-breaking relationship for basketball, as it’s the first time the BBF along with multiple Home Country Associations have pooled our efforts and commercial properties. It is a tangible example of the closer working relationship across basketball in Britain, being driven by our Transforming Basketball in Britain strategy.”

Already the preferred hydration drink of countless professional clubs, sporting organisations and international athletes, club nutritionists and sports performance coaches from across the globe are offering testimony to iPro Sport's ability to deliver great hydration and aid recovery. iPro Sport stands out from its competitors with its naturally sweetened hydrating isotonic drink that contains absolutely no artificial flavours, colours or sweeteners.

“We feel that this collaborative partnership agreement with British Basketball, Basketball Scotland and Basketball Wales really demonstrates the commercial growth of the sport in the UK. We look forward to playing our role in the future development of the sport and further cementing our long term commitment to Basketball worldwide.” said Sophie Christy, Commercial Director at iPro Sport.

Barry Lang, Head of Basketball at basketballscotland added;

“basketballscotland are delighted to welcome iPro Sport as a key partner for SBC Finals events and Scotland National Teams for the next four years. This four year partnership will provide Scotland’s top athletes with the hydration they require during competition and we are excited about the opportunity to work with iPro Sport who already have an excellent reputation within the sports hydration industry across the UK.” 

Gavin Williams, CEO of Basketball Wales added;

"Basketball Wales are pleased to announce iPro Sport as a new commercial partner and the preferred Hydration drink for all our National Team athletes. Basketball Wales looks forward to working with iPro Sport for the next four years which will benefit our athletes at all our major annual events and national team training sessions."

British Basketball is pleased to announce the list of players nominated by the Home Countries to participate in the initial training camps for the GB National U16 & U18 Squads, ahead of the various FIBA European Championships 2017.

British Basketball Chief Executive, Lisa Wainwright, commented “This is such an exciting announcement to make. For the first time, the Under 16 and Under 18 teams will be competing in European Championships under a GB banner and flying the Union flag. The Home Countries have done their own talent identification processes and have nominated a wonderful bunch of young athletes to take part in the initial training camps. Thanks to Basketball England for managing the programme for these squads. Good luck to everyone over the next few months.”

Vladan Dragosovac, Technical and Performance Manager at Basketball England, who is overseeing the GB camps, said “It is great to be involved in bringing together talented young basketball players from across the home nations. The programme we are delivering through the upcoming camps is designed to further prepare our young athletes for competition at the highest level.”

A full list of all nominated players is outlined below:

GB Under 18 Men

Name                                   Home Country             Club

Adria Amabilino-Perez            England                       Derby Trailblazers

Brian Amabilino-Perez            England                       Derby Trailblazers

Ryan Armour                         Scotland                      City of Edinburgh

Ashley Barrett-Briggs             England                       Team Solent Kestrels

Nelson Boachie Yiadom         England                       Loomis Chaffee (USA)

Kaiyem Cleary                       England                       Manchester Magic

Joshua Edwards                    England                       London Thunder

Alexander Ferguson               Scotland                      City of Edinburgh

Caleb Fuller                           England                       Ipswich

Kayne Henry-McCalla             England                       London Westside

Kieran Horrigan                    Wales                         Leicester Riders / Charnwood College

Hosana Kitenge                     England                       Worthing Thunder

Callan Low                            Scotland                      basketballpaisley

Pierce Maslen                       England                       Barking Abbey

Joshua Ogundele                   England                       Barking Abbey

Nathan Robinson                   England                       Las Lomas, Walnut Creek (USA)

Jacob  Round                        England                       Fuenlabrada (ESP)

Sesan Russell                       England                       Loughborough Student Riders

Micah Savery-Richards          England                       Leeds Force

Romario Spence                    England                       Charnwood College

Peter Strigas                         England                       Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE)

Zion Tordoff                           England                       Lancashire Spinners

Luke Webster-Smith             Wales                          Trent College Knights

GB Under 18 Women

Name                                     Home Country            Club

Ruth Allison                            Scotland                      CDB Zaragoza (ESP)

Jade Blackburn                       England                       Sevenoaks Suns

Teresa Da Silva                      England                       Barking Abbey

Flora Durgerian                       England                       Sevenoaks Suns

Charlotte Ellmore                    England                       Barking Abbey

Sophie Evans                       Wales                          Leicester Riders / Charnwood College

Tia Freeman                           England                       Oaklands Wolves

Shauna Harrison                     England                       Lancashire Spinners

Alix Henderson                       Scotland                      Highland Bears / Edinburgh University

Ebony Horton                         England                       Leicester Riders

Megan Jones                         Scotland                      Ayr Storm

Milly Knowles                         England                       Lancashire Spinners

Daniela Lozzi                          England                       Sevenoaks Suns

Hansine Marshall                    Scotland                      Edinburgh University / Caledonia Pride

Shawnisay Millar                    Scotland                      Boroughmuir Blaze / Caledonia Pride

Sophie Owen                         England                       Hawthorn (AUS)

Ire Ozzy-Momodu                   England                       Southwark Pride

Sian Phillips                           Scotland                      Boroughmuir Blaze

Maya Price                              England                       Ipswich

Cheyenne Scott                      England                       Southwark Pride

Macy Spinks                           England                       Oaklands Wolves

Leah Stewart                          Scotland                      CDB Zaragoza (ESP)

Emily Stradling                        Wales                       Cardiff Met Archers

Loie Webb                               England                       Logan Basketball (AUS)

Zoe Willis                                 England                      Barking Abbey

Holly Winterburn                     England                         Leicester Riders

GB Under 16 Men

Name                                     Home Country           Club

Timothy Adetukasi                  England                       Brentwood Fire

Joseph Barrett                        England                       Bradford Dragons

Harrison Bell                           England                       Doncaster Danum Eagles

Charlie Brown                         England                       Derby Trailblazers

David Chive                            England                       London Greenhouse Pioneers

Veron Eze                              England                       Ipswich

Christopher Feeney                 Scotland                      basketballpaisley

Alex Gager                             England                       Surrey Goldhawks

Theo Hughes                          England                       Brentwood Fire

Kemari Kennley Bailey             England                       Sussex Bears

Lewis McGlasson                   Scotland                      CB Terra L’Alfas del Pi (ESP)

Chester Morrell                       England                       Shoreham Spartans

Eljay Morris                            England                       London Thunder - Lewisham

Louis Norton-Cuffy                  England                       Peckham Pride

Mate Okros                            England                       Kent Crusaders

Vasja Pandza                         England                       Leeds Force

Kareem Queeley                    England                       Real Madrid (ESP)

Oluwasegun Shodunke           England                       Kent Crusaders

Tomiwa Sulaiman                   England                       London Greenhouse Pioneers

Cai Thomas                           Wales                          Bristol Flyers

GB Under 16 Women

Name                                     Home Country           Club

Lilly Annim                             England                       Southend Swifts

Alexandra Baker                     England                       Sevenoaks Suns

Katie Bennett                         England                       Southend Swifts

Loren Christie                         England                       Oaklands Wolves

Laura Collins                          Scotland                      basketballpaisley

Carla Crowther                        Scotland                      Lady Rocks

Shanice Flitton                       England                       GCA Haringey Angels

Jade Guidolin-Duncan             England                       London Greenhouse Pioneers

Rebecca Harwood-Bellis          England                       Tameside Basketball Club

Ashana Hinds                         England                       Manchester Mystics

Katrina Kirsop                         Scotland                      Stirling Knights

Khia Lee                                 England                       Manchester Mystics

Esther Little                            England                       Ipswich

Georgia McCabe                     Scotland                      Tayside Musketeers

Mairi McGill                            Scotland                      Sony Centre Fury      

Brahe Opal Ashton                 England                       Nottingham Wildcats

Valentina Palli                        Scotland                      Lady Rocks

Ashante Richards                   England                       Sheffield Hatters

Lauren Saa                            England                       West Bromwich Albion

Mia Sarkodee-Adoo                England                       Oaklands Wolves

Jess Southwell                       England                       Sheffield Hatters

Pollyanna Storie                     Scotland                      City of Edinburgh

Sarah Wooldridge                   England                       Redstar Belgrade (SRB)

British Basketball announce the coaching and management staff for the GB national youth squads for the FIBA European Championships 2017

British Basketball is pleased to announce the confirmation of all coaching and team management roles for the GB National Youth Squads, ahead of the various FIBA European Championships 2017.

With 2017 being the first year that Under 16 and Under 18 teams will be competing as Great Britain, rather than the Home Countries, there is great excitement within the basketball community for opportunities facing the squads.

British Basketball Chief Executive, Lisa Wainwright, commented “We are delighted to name such strong coaching and management teams to all of the GB National Youth Squads. Using the experience and talent within the Home Countries, we’ve been able to appoint high quality coaches and excellent team support personnel to all squads. Flying the flag for GB for the first time for the younger age groups adds a new dimension for the coaches, management and players. Thanks to all the Home Countries for their assistance in appointing the staff and Basketball England for managing the Under 16 and Under 18 squads. Another example of collaborative working being driven by our Transforming Basketball in Britain strategy.”

A full list of all staff is listed below:

GB Under 20 Men

Name                        Position

Andreas Kapoulas      Head Coach

Lloyd Gardner            Assistant Coach

Josh Merrington         Assistant Coach

Mark Lloyd                Team Manager

Mark Dayson             Physio

Ross Knevett            Sports Therapist

GB Under 20 Women

Name                         Position

Jose Buceta                Head Coach

Chris Bunten                Assistant Coach

Rachael Vanderwal       Assistant Coach

Beverley Kettlety         Team Manager

Darren Finnegan           Physio

GB Under 18 Men

Name                         Position

Alan Keane                 Head Coach

Ian Macleod                Assistant Coach

Pete Daines                Team Manager

Peter Berenyi              Performance Analyst

Patrick Waplington      S&C Coach

Ellen Scott                  Sports Therapist

GB Under 18 Women

Name                         Position

Vanessa Ellis              Head Coach

James Dawe               Assistant Coach

Sadie Mason               Team Manager

Barney Blake               Performance Analyst

Sam Heathcote            S&C Coach

James McCormack      Physio

GB Under 16 Men

Name                         Position

James Vear                 Head Coach

Craig Nicol                  Assistant Coach

Howard Leighton          Team Manager

Ieuan Alex Jones         Performance Analyst

Hani Assi                    S&C Coach

Mark Dayson               Physio

GB Under 16 Women

Name                        Position

Matthew Harber          Head Coach

Kenrick Liburd            Assistant Coach

Olga Cornish              Team Manager

Adam Davies             Performance Analyst

Antonis Kesisoglou     S&C Coach

Brad Scanes              Physio

Wales National Team Head Coach James Bamfield has named his squad for the Celtic Cup which will be held in Scotland at the National Performance Centre on 9 -11 June 2017. Scotland play Ireland on Friday, before Wales face Ireland on Saturday and Scotland on the Sunday. It is expected both sides will field strong line ups with Scotland still hoping to make a case for a place at 2018 Commonwealth games and set to feature GB players Gareth Murray and Kieran Achara.

The Welsh squad has clearly been selected with a view to the future and features 8 players who earlier this year represented Wales at U23.

Coach Bamfield said, “We have made tremendous progress since September adding significantly to the talent levels and identifying some excellent veterans to help lead the program forward. We now have 25 players attending the next camp on the 3June, before we work with the squad for Scotland. We will continue to work tirelessly to identify young talent and involve them in either the Senior or U23 program. In terms of the Celtic Cup clash in June everyone involved is very excited to dip our toes into true International competition”.

The squad has an average age of 23 and for most of the squad this will be their first senior international so it’s very exciting to see these players taking this first step and help them to discover what sort of international players they might be.

Coach Bamfield was pleased by the success many of these players had at U23 level forcing over 30 turnovers and landing 40 fast break points in their win over Scotland. Obviously, the performance levels and results will be different at senior level.  

He added “We need to be realistic about expectations and give this group a chance to grow as they can have a very bright future”.

We have also been very lucky to have some superb veteran talent commit to the program and it gives me great pleasure to name James Dawe, Asa Waite and Jamie Rodwell as team co-captains as we move forward.

James Dawe one of the three named co-captains said: “Coming off the back of a tough FIBA campaign last summer it's been great to start training with Wales again. I have been lucky enough to go to the past two FIBA Small Countries tournaments and have really enjoyed the challenge of playing at that level. The competition style and the build-up are always an opportunity to learn and improve. Although we are no longer entering that competition the prospect of playing for Wales is still a big draw for the guys. Several of us play for Cardiff Archers and we have enjoyed a competitive season in the National League D3 this year narrowing missing out on playoffs. Hopefully we can take some of that momentum into the summer with Wales. 

Coach Bamfield really has the guys buying into the way he wants Wales to play and the vision for the future, you can tell by the atmosphere at the camps.

We have a lot of young players who are hungry to improve and prove they deserve a spot in the senior team. This makes training competitive and, coupled with the fast style of basketball the coaches are implementing, it's fun to be involved. There's a positive atmosphere and an understanding of where we are at now and where we want to be. Hopefully as we continue to train hard as a group, and away from camps individually, we will start to see things come together on court.  

The Celtic Cup will be our first real opportunity to play together. Both Scotland and Ireland have great set ups and talented players so they will be a very tough test for us. The guys are looking forward to the chance to play against that kind of competition”.

Sqaud to represent Wales in the Celtic Cup
9 - 11 June 2017
Scotland

The following players have been invited to join the training camp

Coaching Team