23 points from Estudiantes forward Dan Clark led Great Britain to an 84-80 win over Bosnia in Sarajevo last night which sent the side top of their European Championship qualifying group.
Chris Finch’s men now head for Birmingham on Saturday to face Ukraine, who defeated Hungary 80-71, and although they were forced to battle right to the finish, a third victory from three ties puts them in pole position to reach next year’s finals in Lithuania.
“This was a tough game,” said Clark. “Bosnia were coming off of a loss on the road and they played well in the first half. We played tough down the stretch."
GB made life difficult for themselves when they fell 11 behind in the opening quarter. With in-form Clark converting his first eight shots, they fought back but Bosnia responded to grab a 48-41 lead at half-time.
A flurry from Nate Reinking and Clark drew the visitors level early in the third and after Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng opened up a three-point lead, their rivals quickly responded to send the tie into the fourth period deadlocked at 64-64.
However in a tight finale, Clark sank two late free throws to put GB ahead for good with a minute left and Reinking, who had 21, hit the clinching scores in the dying seconds to give GB captain Drew Sullivan a victory to go with his record-breaking 50th cap.
“It’s a heck of an achievement,” said Finch. ”Drew and Nate have been here since day one. He’s been an inspirational captain and a great leader and if you’re going to build a team, it’s around guys like him.”
Deng and Pops Mensah-Bonsu each finished with 16 points, with the latter pulling down 13 rebounds.
Ratko Varda led the Bosnians with 20 points, while Kenan Bajramovic had 16 and Henry Domercant 14.
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Showing posts with label eurobasket. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eurobasket. Show all posts
Thursday, 12 August 2010
Monday, 2 August 2010
Luol Deng ready to make up for lost time as GB start Euro campaign
Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng is ready to put two years of frustration behind him and help Great Britain qualify for next summer's European Championships, according to the national team's captain Drew Sullivan.
Chris Finch's side begin their campaign tonight against Hungary in Szolnok with their most formidable asset back in the ranks after missing last summer through injury. With a number of seasoned performers suffering a similar fate this time, his return provides a massive boost to Britain's chances of featuring in the 2011 finals in Lithuania – and, in turn, persuading the sport's governing body FIBA to confirm their place in the London Olympics.
“I'm glad Luol's back,” said Sullivan. “Last summer he was around the team as much as he could and you could see how upset he was that he couldn't play at the Eurobasket finals, which is something we'd spent two years working towards. He was devastated that he'd helped us qualify and then, unfortunately, got hurt with the Bulls and didn't recover in time. From our perspective, we need him. We're a much better team with him.”
With Deng barred from featuring in any of GB's warm-up games due to an issue with his NBA-sponsored insurance, Finch has been forced to take an extended look at a number of younger faces with the Spanish-based centre Dan Clark and American collegiate prospect Matthew Bryan-Amaning seizing their opportunity to stake a claim.
“Potentially, if they do well, it will benefit us because it shows that we have depth,” Sullivan stated. “If someone decides to pull out through injury, we now have guys who can step up and take their place at short notice. And it also puts pressure on the older guys, or players who might pull out for less than legitimate reasons. They'll now know that they won't necessarily get back in.”
Regular updates on Twitter on http://twitter.com/markbritball
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Chris Finch's side begin their campaign tonight against Hungary in Szolnok with their most formidable asset back in the ranks after missing last summer through injury. With a number of seasoned performers suffering a similar fate this time, his return provides a massive boost to Britain's chances of featuring in the 2011 finals in Lithuania – and, in turn, persuading the sport's governing body FIBA to confirm their place in the London Olympics.
“I'm glad Luol's back,” said Sullivan. “Last summer he was around the team as much as he could and you could see how upset he was that he couldn't play at the Eurobasket finals, which is something we'd spent two years working towards. He was devastated that he'd helped us qualify and then, unfortunately, got hurt with the Bulls and didn't recover in time. From our perspective, we need him. We're a much better team with him.”
With Deng barred from featuring in any of GB's warm-up games due to an issue with his NBA-sponsored insurance, Finch has been forced to take an extended look at a number of younger faces with the Spanish-based centre Dan Clark and American collegiate prospect Matthew Bryan-Amaning seizing their opportunity to stake a claim.
“Potentially, if they do well, it will benefit us because it shows that we have depth,” Sullivan stated. “If someone decides to pull out through injury, we now have guys who can step up and take their place at short notice. And it also puts pressure on the older guys, or players who might pull out for less than legitimate reasons. They'll now know that they won't necessarily get back in.”
Regular updates on Twitter on http://twitter.com/markbritball
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Saturday, 17 July 2010
GB U20 men qualify for second phase despite Austrian defeat
under-20 men let a double-digit first half lead slip as they went down 91-71 against Austria in the European Championship B Division on Friday.
The tournament hosts had chalked up a come-from-behind victory against Belgium in their first game, and they repeated the trick to go top of Group C with a strong second half. With Belgium beating Denmark, GB are now assured of a place in the second phase of the tournament, but their final preliminary round game against the Belgians on Sunday will be key if they hope to progress to the semi-finals.
Andrew Lawrence led the British scoring with 18 points, with Ovie Soko adding 15 and Will Neighbour ten. Britain were out-rebounded 37-27 by an Austrian team who had Jesse Seilern and Anton Maresch each scoring 21 points.
Despite the margin of defeat, coach Lewis remained positive after the game: "In the first half we played some of the best basketball seen at under-20 level. "We were the better team, we executed exceptionally well and really took the game to them.
"Unfortunately we made a couple of mistakes early in the second half and they made us pay. When a team goes 60 percent from the three-point line, it's hard to stop. We made some changes, and we certainly weren't outplayed. We stuck at it, and if we'd made a couple more lay-ups and got a couple of stops at the defensive end it would have been a different game, the scoreline didn't reflect the game."
Eric Schranze opened the Austrian scoring with a pair from the foul line, but Alex Marcotullio replied for GB, and he kept Tim Lewis' team in touch with a second shot from downtown before Will Neighbour launched a 7-3 run that put GB into a lead they wouldn't relinquish during the first period.
Marcotullio hit his third three-pointer of the game with 3:41 on the clock, and with Andrew Lawrence and Will Hall also scoring from long-range, Britain went into the first break 27-20 ahead. The threes continued to drop for Britain as Lawrence opened the second period, although Thomas Klepeisz made it a seven point again with a similar shot.
Soko hit a pair of foul shots to keep Britain ahead, and five straight points from Ryan Martin made it 40-30 at the midway stage of the period.
But seven straight Maresch points took his tally to 19 for the half and made it three point game before Lawrence and Seilern exchanged three-pointers.
The Austrian run continued as Seilern gave them a 44-43 lead with 88 first half seconds remaining, but it was GB who went into the locker room with a slender 45-44 lead as Nigel Van Oostrum converted a lay-up with 54 seconds on the clock.
That lead quickly evaporated as triples from Romed Vieider and Sailern gave the home side a five point lead.
Myles Hesson broke the run, but Maresch scored what proved to be his only points of the half to give Austria a double-digit lead with four minutes of the period remaining, and three-pointers from Klepeisz and Lukas Linzer sent Austria into the final break with a 74-56 lead.
Four Soko points and a Lawrence scoring run saw GB open the fourth period with a 7-1 run to make it a 12 point game, but Seilern sunk a dagger three-pointer to end the comeback, and Tim Lewis' team never got the margin into single digits as Austria closed out the victory.
..
The tournament hosts had chalked up a come-from-behind victory against Belgium in their first game, and they repeated the trick to go top of Group C with a strong second half. With Belgium beating Denmark, GB are now assured of a place in the second phase of the tournament, but their final preliminary round game against the Belgians on Sunday will be key if they hope to progress to the semi-finals.
Andrew Lawrence led the British scoring with 18 points, with Ovie Soko adding 15 and Will Neighbour ten. Britain were out-rebounded 37-27 by an Austrian team who had Jesse Seilern and Anton Maresch each scoring 21 points.
Despite the margin of defeat, coach Lewis remained positive after the game: "In the first half we played some of the best basketball seen at under-20 level. "We were the better team, we executed exceptionally well and really took the game to them.
"Unfortunately we made a couple of mistakes early in the second half and they made us pay. When a team goes 60 percent from the three-point line, it's hard to stop. We made some changes, and we certainly weren't outplayed. We stuck at it, and if we'd made a couple more lay-ups and got a couple of stops at the defensive end it would have been a different game, the scoreline didn't reflect the game."
Eric Schranze opened the Austrian scoring with a pair from the foul line, but Alex Marcotullio replied for GB, and he kept Tim Lewis' team in touch with a second shot from downtown before Will Neighbour launched a 7-3 run that put GB into a lead they wouldn't relinquish during the first period.
Marcotullio hit his third three-pointer of the game with 3:41 on the clock, and with Andrew Lawrence and Will Hall also scoring from long-range, Britain went into the first break 27-20 ahead. The threes continued to drop for Britain as Lawrence opened the second period, although Thomas Klepeisz made it a seven point again with a similar shot.
Soko hit a pair of foul shots to keep Britain ahead, and five straight points from Ryan Martin made it 40-30 at the midway stage of the period.
But seven straight Maresch points took his tally to 19 for the half and made it three point game before Lawrence and Seilern exchanged three-pointers.
The Austrian run continued as Seilern gave them a 44-43 lead with 88 first half seconds remaining, but it was GB who went into the locker room with a slender 45-44 lead as Nigel Van Oostrum converted a lay-up with 54 seconds on the clock.
That lead quickly evaporated as triples from Romed Vieider and Sailern gave the home side a five point lead.
Myles Hesson broke the run, but Maresch scored what proved to be his only points of the half to give Austria a double-digit lead with four minutes of the period remaining, and three-pointers from Klepeisz and Lukas Linzer sent Austria into the final break with a 74-56 lead.
Four Soko points and a Lawrence scoring run saw GB open the fourth period with a 7-1 run to make it a 12 point game, but Seilern sunk a dagger three-pointer to end the comeback, and Tim Lewis' team never got the margin into single digits as Austria closed out the victory.
..
Thursday, 15 July 2010
Damian Jennings looking for progress as GB Under-20 women begin Euro campaign
Great Britain coach Damian Jennings admits he is taking a trip into the unknown when his young women’s side face Belgium on Friday in the opening game of the European Under-20 Championships in Macedonia.
Jennings’ prospects, bidding to earn promotion to Division A, have impressed in their build-up to the tournament with a series of solid performances, sparked by a six-strong group of players with senior experience including Charlotte Stoddart and Mairi Buchan.
Despite the loss of probable starter Georgia Jones to injury, GB go into the event looking to improve on last summer’s ninth place finish – with the initial aim of ending up in the top four of a five-team group which contains Belgium and Hungary – who inflicted defeats on the British 12 months ago – as well as hosts Macedonia and the Czech Republic.
“We won four of our five warm-up games and we showed growth over each of them,” Jennings said. “We have 12 players with fantastic attitudes. The chemistry was instant. I didn’t have to do much to generate that. But the truth is I don’t know how we’ll do. Youth basketball is so cyclical. I can’t be sure what the other teams will be like because last year’s Under-20s change as players move up into the senior teams.
“It’s a tough group. Belgium and Hungary were strong last summer. You have the hosts there who we don’t know much about. And the Czechs have come down from Division A. So we’ll see how it goes and try to do the best we can.”
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Jennings’ prospects, bidding to earn promotion to Division A, have impressed in their build-up to the tournament with a series of solid performances, sparked by a six-strong group of players with senior experience including Charlotte Stoddart and Mairi Buchan.
Despite the loss of probable starter Georgia Jones to injury, GB go into the event looking to improve on last summer’s ninth place finish – with the initial aim of ending up in the top four of a five-team group which contains Belgium and Hungary – who inflicted defeats on the British 12 months ago – as well as hosts Macedonia and the Czech Republic.
“We won four of our five warm-up games and we showed growth over each of them,” Jennings said. “We have 12 players with fantastic attitudes. The chemistry was instant. I didn’t have to do much to generate that. But the truth is I don’t know how we’ll do. Youth basketball is so cyclical. I can’t be sure what the other teams will be like because last year’s Under-20s change as players move up into the senior teams.
“It’s a tough group. Belgium and Hungary were strong last summer. You have the hosts there who we don’t know much about. And the Czechs have come down from Division A. So we’ll see how it goes and try to do the best we can.”
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Wednesday, 14 July 2010
Tom Maher names Great Britain squad for Euros as Mason and Gandy miss cut
Great Britain women’s coach Tom Maher has named his final 12-strong squad for next month’s Eurobasket qualifiers, and it includes two players who weren’t even in the picture when training camp began.
Australian-born EBL player of the year Natalie Stafford of Barking Abbey is in the line-up along with Canadian-born guard Rachael Vanderwal, a former Boston University standout who currently features for Irish Superleague outfit, Limerick.
Veteran duo Ros Mason and Stephanie Gandy have been cut from the GB side while Lisa Hutchinson and Meagan Hoffman have been named as reserves.
“It has been extremely difficult to select the final 14 players who will see us through the test games against Portugal, Belgium, Holland and Israel and the EuroBasket qualifying campaign," said Maher.
“I would like to thank Rosalee and Stephanie for their commitment to the GB cause this summer, but a couple of players had to miss out. We think we have selected a balanced roster in terms of experience and youth whilst also ensuring we have good cover in all positions.
“We welcome Natalie and Rachael to the Standard Life GB team. They have been on our radar for a while and we feel now is the correct time to introduce them to the roster.”
Maher’s side host Portugal in Surrey in friendlies this Saturday and Sunday.
Standard Life GB squad: Anderson, Butler, Clayden, Collins, Handy, Leedham, McKay, Page, Stafford, Stewart, Wade-Frey, Vanderwal. Reserves: Hutchinson, Hoffman
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Australian-born EBL player of the year Natalie Stafford of Barking Abbey is in the line-up along with Canadian-born guard Rachael Vanderwal, a former Boston University standout who currently features for Irish Superleague outfit, Limerick.
Veteran duo Ros Mason and Stephanie Gandy have been cut from the GB side while Lisa Hutchinson and Meagan Hoffman have been named as reserves.
“It has been extremely difficult to select the final 14 players who will see us through the test games against Portugal, Belgium, Holland and Israel and the EuroBasket qualifying campaign," said Maher.
“I would like to thank Rosalee and Stephanie for their commitment to the GB cause this summer, but a couple of players had to miss out. We think we have selected a balanced roster in terms of experience and youth whilst also ensuring we have good cover in all positions.
“We welcome Natalie and Rachael to the Standard Life GB team. They have been on our radar for a while and we feel now is the correct time to introduce them to the roster.”
Maher’s side host Portugal in Surrey in friendlies this Saturday and Sunday.
Standard Life GB squad: Anderson, Butler, Clayden, Collins, Handy, Leedham, McKay, Page, Stafford, Stewart, Wade-Frey, Vanderwal. Reserves: Hutchinson, Hoffman
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Channel 4 to screen Eurobasket highlights
Channel 4 has confirmed that it will screen four highlights programmes of Great Britain's Men’s and Women’s home Eurobasket qualifiers next month. The featured games will be GB Women v Slovakia and GB Men v Ukraine from the NIA in Birmingham and GB Women v Germany and GB Men v Bosnia & Hergovina from the Liverpool Echo Arena.
The one hour highlights programmes will be broadcast on four consecutive Sunday’s starting on August 22 at 7am, with the subsequent shows starting at 7.30am, 7.00am and 8.00am.
James Tombs, Head of Commercial & Business Operations at British Basketball is delighted that Channel 4 has agreed to broadcast highlights of the double headers:
“To get the support of a major broadcaster like Channel 4 is great for the sport. We have worked with Channel 4 before so it was the obvious platform and partner for what should be a feast of basketball. This is the first time that British Basketball has staged double headers so it will generate a lot of interest in both the men’s and women’s games as well as producing some compelling TV viewing.”
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The one hour highlights programmes will be broadcast on four consecutive Sunday’s starting on August 22 at 7am, with the subsequent shows starting at 7.30am, 7.00am and 8.00am.
James Tombs, Head of Commercial & Business Operations at British Basketball is delighted that Channel 4 has agreed to broadcast highlights of the double headers:
“To get the support of a major broadcaster like Channel 4 is great for the sport. We have worked with Channel 4 before so it was the obvious platform and partner for what should be a feast of basketball. This is the first time that British Basketball has staged double headers so it will generate a lot of interest in both the men’s and women’s games as well as producing some compelling TV viewing.”
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Sunday, 4 July 2010
Scotland ready for Euros / Fixtures
Scotland’s men have the toughest possible start to their European Championship campaign on Monday when they face favourites Denmark.
Tom Campbell’s side go into the tournament in Valetta without captain Gareth Murray after the Glasgow Rocks forward accepted a lucrative short-term deal with Malaysian side Perak.
However guard Steve Leven, who led the side in scoring their warm-up games, insists the Scots can progress from a group that also includes minnows Malta and San Marino.
“I think we’re going to shock some people,” said the Great Britain cap. “We’ve really come together and things have fitted well in the games we’ve played over the last month.”
Meanwhile Scotland’s women claimed third place in their European Championships as 28 points from Gillian Baird sparked an 88-67 win in a play-off against Moldova. Malta took the title by beating hosts Armenia 74-65.
MONDAY 5
European Championships (Malta). Scotland 88-68 Denmark (5pm), Wales v Gibraltar (7.30)
TUESDAY 6
European Championships (Malta). Scotland v San Marino (7.15), Wales v Moldova (12.30)
Friendly (Worcester) England v Lithuania (6.30)
WEDNESDAY 7
European Championships (Malta). Scotland v Malta (5pm), Wales v Andorra (12.30)
Friendly (Worcester) England v Lithuania (6.30)
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Tom Campbell’s side go into the tournament in Valetta without captain Gareth Murray after the Glasgow Rocks forward accepted a lucrative short-term deal with Malaysian side Perak.
However guard Steve Leven, who led the side in scoring their warm-up games, insists the Scots can progress from a group that also includes minnows Malta and San Marino.
“I think we’re going to shock some people,” said the Great Britain cap. “We’ve really come together and things have fitted well in the games we’ve played over the last month.”
Meanwhile Scotland’s women claimed third place in their European Championships as 28 points from Gillian Baird sparked an 88-67 win in a play-off against Moldova. Malta took the title by beating hosts Armenia 74-65.
MONDAY 5
European Championships (Malta). Scotland 88-68 Denmark (5pm), Wales v Gibraltar (7.30)
TUESDAY 6
European Championships (Malta). Scotland v San Marino (7.15), Wales v Moldova (12.30)
Friendly (Worcester) England v Lithuania (6.30)
WEDNESDAY 7
European Championships (Malta). Scotland v Malta (5pm), Wales v Andorra (12.30)
Friendly (Worcester) England v Lithuania (6.30)
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Thursday, 24 June 2010
Great Britain’s women remain a work in progress, admits Tom Maher
With four weeks of hard graft behind them, Great Britain’s women have left their training camp in Stirling and headed for Bulgaria for the start of an extensive schedule of warm-up games ahead of their Eurobasket qualifiers.
Tom Maher’s status update? “We’ve made a lot of progress,” the Australian declared.
But there is still much to do between now and GB’s competitive opener against Slovakia on August 14. More good habits to instil, he says. More details to fine tune. And further gears to find to compete at a level that might give the side an opportunity to surprise their group rivals and earn the kind of respectability required to put their Olympic Games place beyond question.
The carrot of being in London 2012 – as much as Lithuania 2011 – looms large for a group that was relegated to Division B earlier this year before earning a surprise reprieve to remain in Europe’s top level.
“We want to prove that we belong there,” states centre Sarah McKay. “Some people in FIBA might agree with us which we why we’re still there but we want to prove that we deserve it.
“We have to show everyone that we belong as a team. We got lucky by re-instated into Division A and we realise that’s a blessing. And so we need to use that our advantage and step up a notch.”
Maher, along with assistants Ken Shields and Vanessa Ellis, have spent a lot of time on the basics during their two-a-day practices. More, in truth, than any of the trio would have liked.
The varying backgrounds of a squad drawn from everywhere from the USA to the EBL has meant that the integration process has been slow. The Australian, both on and off the court, pulls few punches. Britain is starting from a few steps behind its international counterparts. It will take more than a month to catch up.
“It’s ongoing,” he confirmed. “Why Australia kicked up from the middle of the pack to the top four was that legacy from one camp to another. They put a few years together and kept building. And the new players who came in learnt from the ones who were there before. It’s a quicker way of teaching that than just coaching it, where the players teach each other informally.
“We’re not a team who can consider ourselves an All Star team that just comes together. We have to establish a skillset that is ingrained as a habit. And if you do it as a national team, you hope that the clubs and coaches below will adopt that as a style or technique. And the coaches will borrow from it so you can maximise your growth under the national side. In that way, the younger kids who come up, their basketball IQ progresses because of better teaching.”
Britain’s squad is overwhelmingly youthful. And that inexperience won’t be easy to overcome, even for a coach who has two Olympic medals in his drawer as well as the knowledge gained from stints with China, New Zealand and the WNBA. The players are adjusting, slowly. “Last summer was a short programme, just three weeks,” Mackay points out.
“So we only got a small feel for him. We didn’t have any serious competitive games as a senior team. The university team had a few games but it’s nice to feel him out properly as a coach and see what he wants from his system.”
Maher demands a lot. And his charges are keen to impress. So far Mackay, Kim Butler and Azania Stewart look the front-runners to form the frontcourt with Rose Anderson and Johanna Leedham as the starting guards. Two more cuts will be made before the qualifiers. Injuries may yet factor in but the rotation is far from set.
“The thing is that I think we can put a good starting five out who can compete,” Maher appraises. “But there are a couple of defensive holes in that. That’s a real worry. The easy fix is to say ‘we won’t start this person because we’ve got a better defender on the bench’. But we don’t.
“So we’re not anywhere near a stage where we can lock up a team or where we know we can have a great day by scoring 90 points because we know we can hold the other team under 70. Certainly against the top ten teams in the world, we’d be in trouble.”
For the optimists, it is a rude reality check. “But that’s where we are,” he adds. “We have to take time to develop. But we can’t leak points early. We have to make them graft and make them work hard in the first quarter.”
Three games against the Bulgarians this weekend in Pravets will see where GB stands. In truth, the hard work for Maher and his team starts now.
.
Tom Maher’s status update? “We’ve made a lot of progress,” the Australian declared.
But there is still much to do between now and GB’s competitive opener against Slovakia on August 14. More good habits to instil, he says. More details to fine tune. And further gears to find to compete at a level that might give the side an opportunity to surprise their group rivals and earn the kind of respectability required to put their Olympic Games place beyond question.
The carrot of being in London 2012 – as much as Lithuania 2011 – looms large for a group that was relegated to Division B earlier this year before earning a surprise reprieve to remain in Europe’s top level.
“We want to prove that we belong there,” states centre Sarah McKay. “Some people in FIBA might agree with us which we why we’re still there but we want to prove that we deserve it.
“We have to show everyone that we belong as a team. We got lucky by re-instated into Division A and we realise that’s a blessing. And so we need to use that our advantage and step up a notch.”
Maher, along with assistants Ken Shields and Vanessa Ellis, have spent a lot of time on the basics during their two-a-day practices. More, in truth, than any of the trio would have liked.
The varying backgrounds of a squad drawn from everywhere from the USA to the EBL has meant that the integration process has been slow. The Australian, both on and off the court, pulls few punches. Britain is starting from a few steps behind its international counterparts. It will take more than a month to catch up.
“It’s ongoing,” he confirmed. “Why Australia kicked up from the middle of the pack to the top four was that legacy from one camp to another. They put a few years together and kept building. And the new players who came in learnt from the ones who were there before. It’s a quicker way of teaching that than just coaching it, where the players teach each other informally.
“We’re not a team who can consider ourselves an All Star team that just comes together. We have to establish a skillset that is ingrained as a habit. And if you do it as a national team, you hope that the clubs and coaches below will adopt that as a style or technique. And the coaches will borrow from it so you can maximise your growth under the national side. In that way, the younger kids who come up, their basketball IQ progresses because of better teaching.”
Britain’s squad is overwhelmingly youthful. And that inexperience won’t be easy to overcome, even for a coach who has two Olympic medals in his drawer as well as the knowledge gained from stints with China, New Zealand and the WNBA. The players are adjusting, slowly. “Last summer was a short programme, just three weeks,” Mackay points out.
“So we only got a small feel for him. We didn’t have any serious competitive games as a senior team. The university team had a few games but it’s nice to feel him out properly as a coach and see what he wants from his system.”
Maher demands a lot. And his charges are keen to impress. So far Mackay, Kim Butler and Azania Stewart look the front-runners to form the frontcourt with Rose Anderson and Johanna Leedham as the starting guards. Two more cuts will be made before the qualifiers. Injuries may yet factor in but the rotation is far from set.
“The thing is that I think we can put a good starting five out who can compete,” Maher appraises. “But there are a couple of defensive holes in that. That’s a real worry. The easy fix is to say ‘we won’t start this person because we’ve got a better defender on the bench’. But we don’t.
“So we’re not anywhere near a stage where we can lock up a team or where we know we can have a great day by scoring 90 points because we know we can hold the other team under 70. Certainly against the top ten teams in the world, we’d be in trouble.”
For the optimists, it is a rude reality check. “But that’s where we are,” he adds. “We have to take time to develop. But we can’t leak points early. We have to make them graft and make them work hard in the first quarter.”
Three games against the Bulgarians this weekend in Pravets will see where GB stands. In truth, the hard work for Maher and his team starts now.
.
Monday, 31 May 2010
Eurobasket to expand to 24 teams from 2013
FIBA Europe has decided to expand the number of participating teams for EuroBasket 2013 from 16 to 24. The change means the elimination of the Division A and B concept.
EuroBasket Women will continue with a 16 team field.
"The growth of our sport in Europe means that the level of play across the continent has improved and we believe that now is the time to expand the tournament," commented FIBA Europe President Olafur Raffnson. "Expanding from 16 to 24 teams is an important step in allowing basketball to continue to flourish."
It is unclear how the move will affect Scotland and Wales who, under current rules, are not allowed to play in the same division as Great Britain. The two smaller home nations are presently in Division C.
A new rule by which coaches will be allowed to bring 14 players to EuroBasket and EuroBasket Women was also approved. One hour before each game the coach will be required to name the 12 players who will play in that game.
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EuroBasket Women will continue with a 16 team field.
"The growth of our sport in Europe means that the level of play across the continent has improved and we believe that now is the time to expand the tournament," commented FIBA Europe President Olafur Raffnson. "Expanding from 16 to 24 teams is an important step in allowing basketball to continue to flourish."
It is unclear how the move will affect Scotland and Wales who, under current rules, are not allowed to play in the same division as Great Britain. The two smaller home nations are presently in Division C.
A new rule by which coaches will be allowed to bring 14 players to EuroBasket and EuroBasket Women was also approved. One hour before each game the coach will be required to name the 12 players who will play in that game.
.
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
British Basketball set to launch host bid for Eurobasket 2015
British Basketball is set to launch a bid to host the 2015 European Championships, using several major facilities - including the new Commonwealth Games Arena in Glasgow - to strengthen its case.
Officials have been encouraged to press ahead with a proposal in order to capitalise on the London Olympics, as well as boosting Great Britain’s chances of qualifying for Rio 2016. And an initial study will be drafted later this year to assess the feasibility of staging the tournament.
“If we are to become a regular player on the world and European stage then we must also look to stage major basketball events in the UK,” British Basketball director Chris Spice said.
“We have incredible facilities around the UK for such a tournament, some of which we already use for our home internationals - the O2 and Olympic arenas in London, the Liverpool Echo Arena, the NIA in Birmingham. And it would be great if we could take the game north of the border to Glasgow where a new indoor arena will be built for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.”
The move has been backed by UK Sport as well as by FIBA Europe, the sport’s governing body.
“We are delighted that we have recently obtained the go-ahead to pursue the prospect of hosting a major basketball event in the UK within the next six years,” said Spice. ”Personally, I would love to bring the Eurobasket 2015 tournament to the UK – another great example of a London 2012 Olympic legacy.”
There is much work to be done before we get to bidding for any major tournament, but our partners at UK Sport are assisting us with preparing the ground via a feasibility study which we hope to complete this year.”
This year sees several new initiatives designed to develop elite players in line with the British Basketball high performance strategy, Game On. The first of these will be a select Great Britain men’s futures team that will play in a four-nation tournament in France. A primarily under-23 tournament for men, it is hoped that this will become a regular feature on the GB performance calendar.
Spice has confirmed that the head coach of this team will be GB Standard Life men’s head coach Chris Finch. “We have always thought that we need to continue to develop our male talent beyond the under-20 team so we have taken this opportunity to participate in this tournament with our neighbours from France, Belgium and Luxembourg. To have Chris coach the team is an obvious added bonus and reflects the high priority we are placing on this team.”
Further elements of the programme will see the introduction of several new high-performance development camps across Britain – the under-20 combined camp for men and women in early June, two national team camps for boys and girls which will bring together for the first time the national team programmes of Britain and the home nations of England, Scotland and Wales.
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Officials have been encouraged to press ahead with a proposal in order to capitalise on the London Olympics, as well as boosting Great Britain’s chances of qualifying for Rio 2016. And an initial study will be drafted later this year to assess the feasibility of staging the tournament.
“If we are to become a regular player on the world and European stage then we must also look to stage major basketball events in the UK,” British Basketball director Chris Spice said.
“We have incredible facilities around the UK for such a tournament, some of which we already use for our home internationals - the O2 and Olympic arenas in London, the Liverpool Echo Arena, the NIA in Birmingham. And it would be great if we could take the game north of the border to Glasgow where a new indoor arena will be built for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.”
The move has been backed by UK Sport as well as by FIBA Europe, the sport’s governing body.
“We are delighted that we have recently obtained the go-ahead to pursue the prospect of hosting a major basketball event in the UK within the next six years,” said Spice. ”Personally, I would love to bring the Eurobasket 2015 tournament to the UK – another great example of a London 2012 Olympic legacy.”
There is much work to be done before we get to bidding for any major tournament, but our partners at UK Sport are assisting us with preparing the ground via a feasibility study which we hope to complete this year.”
This year sees several new initiatives designed to develop elite players in line with the British Basketball high performance strategy, Game On. The first of these will be a select Great Britain men’s futures team that will play in a four-nation tournament in France. A primarily under-23 tournament for men, it is hoped that this will become a regular feature on the GB performance calendar.
Spice has confirmed that the head coach of this team will be GB Standard Life men’s head coach Chris Finch. “We have always thought that we need to continue to develop our male talent beyond the under-20 team so we have taken this opportunity to participate in this tournament with our neighbours from France, Belgium and Luxembourg. To have Chris coach the team is an obvious added bonus and reflects the high priority we are placing on this team.”
Further elements of the programme will see the introduction of several new high-performance development camps across Britain – the under-20 combined camp for men and women in early June, two national team camps for boys and girls which will bring together for the first time the national team programmes of Britain and the home nations of England, Scotland and Wales.
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Thursday, 8 April 2010
GB announce summer schedule, venues
For the first time the GB Standard Life men's and women's teams will share venues after British Basketball confirmed that they will be staging two double headers this summer as both sides embark on important campaigns as they look to take the next steps towards London 2012.
The first of the two double headers will take place on August 14 at the NIA in Birmingham, when the men take on Ukraine and the women take on Slovakia. The second double header will be staged at Liverpool's Echo Arena on August 26, when Bosnia & Herzegovina and Germany are the respective opposition.
The remaining home games of the 2010 Eurobasket qualifying campaign, will see the men's team play at the new sports facility at Northumbria University in Newcastle as well as a further game at the NIA, whilst the women will play at Surrey University.
Chris Spice, British Basketball Performance Director, believes the double headers are a great opportunity for the sport.
"It is fantastic that we have been able to incorporate two double headers into the men's and women's schedule, this is something we have been considering for a number of years," he said. "We fully believe that the double headers will attract huge public interest in Birmingham and Liverpool to make it a very positive experience for our teams.
"Both programmes will have a challenging Eurobasket qualifying campaign, but through the selection of these venues, we are providing a great platform for the teams to go out and perform on the court.
"In recent years we have enjoyed competing at the NIA and the Echo Arena, so I am sure this year will be no different. We are especially looking forward to be heading to the new venues at Surrey University and Newcastle, the latter of which is such a strong basketball area and of course boasts current BBL champions the Newcastle Eagles."
GB Men's Head Coach, Chris Finch, who is currently having a very successful season in the NBA D-League with Rio Grande Valley, has already started to plan for the summer campaign.
"Having the venues confirmed is the next step in our preparation towards what will be a very tough but exciting campaign. I am really looking forward to being at the NIA and the Echo Arena, which proved to be very positive experiences in the 2008 campaign, when we won both games.
"Myself and the extended coaching team are currently working hard to identify the correct players for the roster which will put us in a position whereby we are capable of qualifying for the 2011 Eurobasket Finals."
Tom Maher, GB Women's Head Coach, who will be taking charge of his first competitive Eurobasket qualifying campaign, said: "I think the opportunity for the women to compete at the big venues is invaluable experience, and I am excited about the prospect of sharing the court with the men's team. Since joining up with British Basketball, I have been pleased with the quality of players available for selection, so I think we should look forward to the upcoming campaign with optimism."
Away venues for both teams have to be confirmed, the men's team will travel to Hungary (2 Aug), Bosnia & Herzegovina (11 Aug), Macedonia (23 Aug) and Ukraine (29 Aug) to finish the campaign. The Women take on Germany (17 Aug), Slovak Republic (23 Aug) and Ukraine (29 Aug).
Schedule - Home
8 August 2010 - GB Standard Life Men v Macedonia, Northumbria University
14 August 2010 - GB Standard Life Women v Slovakia / GB Standard Life Men v Ukraine, NIA Birmingham
17 August 2010 - GB Standard Life Men v Hungary, NIA Birmingham
20 August 2010 - GB Standard Life Women v Ukraine, Surrey University
26 August 2010 - GB Standard Life Women v Germany / GB Standard Life Men v Bosnia & Herzegovina, Echo Arena, Liverpool
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The first of the two double headers will take place on August 14 at the NIA in Birmingham, when the men take on Ukraine and the women take on Slovakia. The second double header will be staged at Liverpool's Echo Arena on August 26, when Bosnia & Herzegovina and Germany are the respective opposition.
The remaining home games of the 2010 Eurobasket qualifying campaign, will see the men's team play at the new sports facility at Northumbria University in Newcastle as well as a further game at the NIA, whilst the women will play at Surrey University.
Chris Spice, British Basketball Performance Director, believes the double headers are a great opportunity for the sport.
"It is fantastic that we have been able to incorporate two double headers into the men's and women's schedule, this is something we have been considering for a number of years," he said. "We fully believe that the double headers will attract huge public interest in Birmingham and Liverpool to make it a very positive experience for our teams.
"Both programmes will have a challenging Eurobasket qualifying campaign, but through the selection of these venues, we are providing a great platform for the teams to go out and perform on the court.
"In recent years we have enjoyed competing at the NIA and the Echo Arena, so I am sure this year will be no different. We are especially looking forward to be heading to the new venues at Surrey University and Newcastle, the latter of which is such a strong basketball area and of course boasts current BBL champions the Newcastle Eagles."
GB Men's Head Coach, Chris Finch, who is currently having a very successful season in the NBA D-League with Rio Grande Valley, has already started to plan for the summer campaign.
"Having the venues confirmed is the next step in our preparation towards what will be a very tough but exciting campaign. I am really looking forward to being at the NIA and the Echo Arena, which proved to be very positive experiences in the 2008 campaign, when we won both games.
"Myself and the extended coaching team are currently working hard to identify the correct players for the roster which will put us in a position whereby we are capable of qualifying for the 2011 Eurobasket Finals."
Tom Maher, GB Women's Head Coach, who will be taking charge of his first competitive Eurobasket qualifying campaign, said: "I think the opportunity for the women to compete at the big venues is invaluable experience, and I am excited about the prospect of sharing the court with the men's team. Since joining up with British Basketball, I have been pleased with the quality of players available for selection, so I think we should look forward to the upcoming campaign with optimism."
Away venues for both teams have to be confirmed, the men's team will travel to Hungary (2 Aug), Bosnia & Herzegovina (11 Aug), Macedonia (23 Aug) and Ukraine (29 Aug) to finish the campaign. The Women take on Germany (17 Aug), Slovak Republic (23 Aug) and Ukraine (29 Aug).
Schedule - Home
8 August 2010 - GB Standard Life Men v Macedonia, Northumbria University
14 August 2010 - GB Standard Life Women v Slovakia / GB Standard Life Men v Ukraine, NIA Birmingham
17 August 2010 - GB Standard Life Men v Hungary, NIA Birmingham
20 August 2010 - GB Standard Life Women v Ukraine, Surrey University
26 August 2010 - GB Standard Life Women v Germany / GB Standard Life Men v Bosnia & Herzegovina, Echo Arena, Liverpool
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Sunday, 28 March 2010
GB set for home venue tour
Great Britain men's Eurobasket qualifiers this summer are likely to be held at Liverpool's Echo Arena, Newcastle's Metro Arena and Birmingham's NIA according to sources. With officials ruling out London's 02 Arena early in the process due to cost considerations, it seems certain that an alternative proposal to host one tie at Wembley Arena will also fail to make the cut.
It's understood there will be two double-headers with GB women in their qualifiers. Confirmation of the full schedule is expected in the next fortnight, following final consultations with coaches Chris Finch and Tom Maher
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It's understood there will be two double-headers with GB women in their qualifiers. Confirmation of the full schedule is expected in the next fortnight, following final consultations with coaches Chris Finch and Tom Maher
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Saturday, 16 January 2010
Eurobasket qualifier dates confirmed
Great Britain's men will open their Eurobasket 2011 qualifying campaign away in Hungary on August 2 after the dates were announced by FIBA Europe, following Saturday's draw. No venues for the home ties have yet been announced.
2 August 2010 - Hungary v GB
8 August 2010 - GB v Macedonia
11 August 2010 - Bosnia & Herzegovina v GB
14 August 2010 - GB v Ukraine
17 August 2010 - GB v Hungary
23 August 2010 - Macedonia v GB
26 August 2010 - GB v Bosnia & Herzegovina
29 August 2010 - Ukraine v GB
The teams placed first in each group, and the two second best placed teams, will qualify for EuroBasket 2011, which will be held in Lithuania. The remaining ten teams will play in the Additional Qualification or Relegation round.
Women start against Slovaks
Great Britain women's games have been confirmed for the following dates with the opening tie on August 14 at home to Slovakia.
14 August 2010 - GB v Slovak Republic
17 August 2010 - Germany v GB
20 August 2010 - GB v Ukraine
23 August 2010 - Slovak Republic v GB
26 August 2010 - GB v Germany
29 August 2010 - Ukraine v GB
The teams placed first and second in each group will qualify for the Final Round of EuroBasket Women 2011, which will be hosted by Poland.
The ten teams which do not qualify will participate in an Additional Qualification or Relegation Round, which will be played in May 2011.
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2 August 2010 - Hungary v GB
8 August 2010 - GB v Macedonia
11 August 2010 - Bosnia & Herzegovina v GB
14 August 2010 - GB v Ukraine
17 August 2010 - GB v Hungary
23 August 2010 - Macedonia v GB
26 August 2010 - GB v Bosnia & Herzegovina
29 August 2010 - Ukraine v GB
The teams placed first in each group, and the two second best placed teams, will qualify for EuroBasket 2011, which will be held in Lithuania. The remaining ten teams will play in the Additional Qualification or Relegation round.
Women start against Slovaks
Great Britain women's games have been confirmed for the following dates with the opening tie on August 14 at home to Slovakia.
14 August 2010 - GB v Slovak Republic
17 August 2010 - Germany v GB
20 August 2010 - GB v Ukraine
23 August 2010 - Slovak Republic v GB
26 August 2010 - GB v Germany
29 August 2010 - Ukraine v GB
The teams placed first and second in each group will qualify for the Final Round of EuroBasket Women 2011, which will be hosted by Poland.
The ten teams which do not qualify will participate in an Additional Qualification or Relegation Round, which will be played in May 2011.
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Eurobasket 2011 qualifying draws - LIVE
The Eurobasket 2011 qualifying and 2010 European Championships draw from Munich - live Blog on the fate of Great Britain, England, Scotland and Wales.
Great Britain's men's coach Chris Finch on the campaign
"We may have been seeded in the second pot for the draw but that didn't mean we took anything for granted. Make no mistake Division A is tough and perhaps last time we took people by surprise because we were a relatively unknown quantity, but now, we have been exposed to more top-level European basketball.
"Last year everyone said we were drawn in the group of death at the Europeans and yes, it was tough, but particularly against Spain we stepped up and raised our game. And that's what we will have to do this summer.
"With everyone available and the ability to prepare for this campaign correctly, I see no reason why we can't be one of the main contenders for qualifying."
GB women's Head coach Tom Maher on his team's chances
"At this level every team is tough, that is the nature of the competition. Britain played six of the 18 teams in the draw in the last round of qualifying so we know what to expect.
Slovak Republic, Ukraine and Germany will provide us with stiff opposition but I am encouraged by how the group of players I had last summer got on, both in training in Manchester and then at the World University Games, where we surprised a few people.
"I'm confident that with another good camp this year, and a fully fit roster available, we will be in a good position to challenge these three/four countries, and that's exactly what we need to do to stay on track for London 2012."
16:15 Group B: GREAT BRITAIN, Macedonia, Bosnia, Hungary and Ukraine.
It was never going to be an easy route to the finals in Lithuania 2011 for Chris Finch's men but - pending Luol Deng's availability - it's an achieveable feat, having avoided Italy and Montenegro. Lots of air miles though. Those qualifiers on a home and away basis in August.
Remember, Finch's side will take on the Bosnians for the second successive Eurobasket qualifying campaign. In 2008 GB won at the NIA in Birmingham, although they lost the return fixture in Bosnia. The team also took on Macedonia last summer in a friendly, where despite a roster stripped of their key players due to injury and illness, they only lost 78-67.
The draw in full:
Group A: Latvia, Israel, Finland, Italy, Montenegro
Group B: Macedonia, Great Britain, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Hungary, Ukraine
Group C: Poland, Bulgaria, Belgium, Portugal, Georgia
(Group winners and best two runners-up qualify for finals)
16:05 Eurobasket 2011 qualifiers Senior Women. Division A. Group D: GREAT BRITAIN, Slovakia, Germany and Ukraine. Yup, it's the Germans again for Tom Maher's side who, lest we forget, needed a special exemption to stay in Division A. One of the tougher draws too.
In the last Eurobasket qualifying campaign, GB recorded their only win of the summer against Germany when Johannah Leedham's winning basket sealed a 61-59 victory, but they agonising lost in Cardiff 74-72 in the return fixture. That same campaign the GB basketball team almost got their campaign off to a great start with a win over Ukraine but lost narrowly 59-54 and were there defeated 80-73 in Cardiff.
The draw in full:
Group A: Italy, Lithuania, Croatia, Belgium, Netherlands
Group B: Latvia, Israel, Serbia, Romania
Group C: Turkey, Hungary, Bulgaria, Finland, Montenegro
Group D: Slovak Republic, Ukraine, Germany, Great Britain
(Top two in each group qualify for finals)
15:50 A far-too-long commercial break before the senior draws. In the meantime, we can tell you that Worcester Wolves have signed 6'10" Lithuanian centre Giedrius Knysas. Petroslav Zafirov has been released. The Bulgarian now with more clubs than Tiger Woods behind him.
FIBA Europe President George Vassilakopoulos has addressed the assembled masses with a plea for sanity going forward.
"I can say that today we no longer have distinct Eastern and Western Federations as in the past," he said. "Today we have European Federations, of course with important differences at the sports of financial level, but with, more and more, the same mentality, the same approach to the principals and values of our sport!
"To close my comments today, I would like to point out that as of the first of December of last year the new treaty on the European Union has entered into force. This treaty contains specific reference to sport, that I do hope, will allow the sports movement to finally obtain, after many years of efforts, the official recognition of the specificity of sport, and the special link between sport and society."
15:35 It's Men, Division C. Group A: WALES, Andorra, Moldova and Gibraltar. Group B: SCOTLAND, Malta, Denmark and San Marino.
Scotland came third last time out in Edinburgh in 2008. Wales were in the bottom two and saved by the judges from elimination.
15:33 Eurobasket women, Division C. Group B: SCOTLAND, WALES, Malta, Azerbaijan. That's in Yerevan, Armenia from June 28-July 3.
15:29 Eurobasket Under-16 Women, Division C. SCOTLAND, Malta and Monaco in the first round. An entire continent exhales.
15:25 My bad. How could we have forgotten the Under-16, Division C draws? Shame on us, especially as the Welsh are involved here. On the men's side, Group A has SCOTLAND, WALES, Andorra and Monaco. All off to Andorra and every one of them grateful to have avoided San Marino in the first round.
15:15 Anyone got draw fatigue yet? Just the senior draw and the mighty Division C to come. GB in Division A for men and women. Fixtures to be played on an home and away basis this summer for the right to qualify for Eurobasket 2011. Lest anyone is wondering where Ireland are - they've yanked their senior programme due to budgetary restrictions. A lot of unhappy folk over that decision.
15:10 Under-20 Men, Division B. Group C: GREAT BRITAIN, Belgium, Austria and Denmark. Tim Lewis will be happy with that one. This tournament's in Gissing and Oberwart, Austria from July 14-24.
15:05 Under-20 Women, Div B. GREAT BRITAIN, Macedonia, Belgium, Hungary, Czech Republic. Tough one this for GB. They're off to Kavadarsi, in Macedonia, July 15-25.
15:02 The Under-20 men draw coming up. Who will Tim Lewis and Damian Jennings be plotting against, this summer?
So that's the home countries sorted. Now for Great Britain following a short break at the Marriott Munchen.
14:40 Under-18 Men. ENGLAND, Romania, Denmark, Belarus, Israel in one group. SCOTLAND, Belgium, Portugal, Bosnia, Hungary in another. July 22- August 1 in Tel Aviv for your diary.
14:40 They're onto the Under-16 Men. Div B. ENGLAND get Ireland, Belarus, Czech Republic and Slovakia in their group. That's in Tallinn, Estonia, 5-14 August.
14:30 Under-18 Women. A corker this... ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, Finland, Estonia and Bulgaria, bound for Timisoara, Romania, 28 July - 8 August. Instant reaction from Scotland head coach, Donnie Finnie. "Ouch."
14:15 local time They're starting with Under-16 Women. Division B. ENGLAND, Macedonia, Romania and Slovakia all going to Skopje, 12-22 August.
14:00 Formalities first in Munich. There's a total of 285 teams in 20 FIBA Europe competitions will enter the draw, apparently. No frozen balls here.
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Great Britain's men's coach Chris Finch on the campaign
"We may have been seeded in the second pot for the draw but that didn't mean we took anything for granted. Make no mistake Division A is tough and perhaps last time we took people by surprise because we were a relatively unknown quantity, but now, we have been exposed to more top-level European basketball.
"Last year everyone said we were drawn in the group of death at the Europeans and yes, it was tough, but particularly against Spain we stepped up and raised our game. And that's what we will have to do this summer.
"With everyone available and the ability to prepare for this campaign correctly, I see no reason why we can't be one of the main contenders for qualifying."
GB women's Head coach Tom Maher on his team's chances
"At this level every team is tough, that is the nature of the competition. Britain played six of the 18 teams in the draw in the last round of qualifying so we know what to expect.
Slovak Republic, Ukraine and Germany will provide us with stiff opposition but I am encouraged by how the group of players I had last summer got on, both in training in Manchester and then at the World University Games, where we surprised a few people.
"I'm confident that with another good camp this year, and a fully fit roster available, we will be in a good position to challenge these three/four countries, and that's exactly what we need to do to stay on track for London 2012."
16:15 Group B: GREAT BRITAIN, Macedonia, Bosnia, Hungary and Ukraine.
It was never going to be an easy route to the finals in Lithuania 2011 for Chris Finch's men but - pending Luol Deng's availability - it's an achieveable feat, having avoided Italy and Montenegro. Lots of air miles though. Those qualifiers on a home and away basis in August.
Remember, Finch's side will take on the Bosnians for the second successive Eurobasket qualifying campaign. In 2008 GB won at the NIA in Birmingham, although they lost the return fixture in Bosnia. The team also took on Macedonia last summer in a friendly, where despite a roster stripped of their key players due to injury and illness, they only lost 78-67.
The draw in full:
Group A: Latvia, Israel, Finland, Italy, Montenegro
Group B: Macedonia, Great Britain, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Hungary, Ukraine
Group C: Poland, Bulgaria, Belgium, Portugal, Georgia
(Group winners and best two runners-up qualify for finals)
16:05 Eurobasket 2011 qualifiers Senior Women. Division A. Group D: GREAT BRITAIN, Slovakia, Germany and Ukraine. Yup, it's the Germans again for Tom Maher's side who, lest we forget, needed a special exemption to stay in Division A. One of the tougher draws too.
In the last Eurobasket qualifying campaign, GB recorded their only win of the summer against Germany when Johannah Leedham's winning basket sealed a 61-59 victory, but they agonising lost in Cardiff 74-72 in the return fixture. That same campaign the GB basketball team almost got their campaign off to a great start with a win over Ukraine but lost narrowly 59-54 and were there defeated 80-73 in Cardiff.
The draw in full:
Group A: Italy, Lithuania, Croatia, Belgium, Netherlands
Group B: Latvia, Israel, Serbia, Romania
Group C: Turkey, Hungary, Bulgaria, Finland, Montenegro
Group D: Slovak Republic, Ukraine, Germany, Great Britain
(Top two in each group qualify for finals)
15:50 A far-too-long commercial break before the senior draws. In the meantime, we can tell you that Worcester Wolves have signed 6'10" Lithuanian centre Giedrius Knysas. Petroslav Zafirov has been released. The Bulgarian now with more clubs than Tiger Woods behind him.
FIBA Europe President George Vassilakopoulos has addressed the assembled masses with a plea for sanity going forward.
"I can say that today we no longer have distinct Eastern and Western Federations as in the past," he said. "Today we have European Federations, of course with important differences at the sports of financial level, but with, more and more, the same mentality, the same approach to the principals and values of our sport!
"To close my comments today, I would like to point out that as of the first of December of last year the new treaty on the European Union has entered into force. This treaty contains specific reference to sport, that I do hope, will allow the sports movement to finally obtain, after many years of efforts, the official recognition of the specificity of sport, and the special link between sport and society."
15:35 It's Men, Division C. Group A: WALES, Andorra, Moldova and Gibraltar. Group B: SCOTLAND, Malta, Denmark and San Marino.
Scotland came third last time out in Edinburgh in 2008. Wales were in the bottom two and saved by the judges from elimination.
15:33 Eurobasket women, Division C. Group B: SCOTLAND, WALES, Malta, Azerbaijan. That's in Yerevan, Armenia from June 28-July 3.
15:29 Eurobasket Under-16 Women, Division C. SCOTLAND, Malta and Monaco in the first round. An entire continent exhales.
15:25 My bad. How could we have forgotten the Under-16, Division C draws? Shame on us, especially as the Welsh are involved here. On the men's side, Group A has SCOTLAND, WALES, Andorra and Monaco. All off to Andorra and every one of them grateful to have avoided San Marino in the first round.
15:15 Anyone got draw fatigue yet? Just the senior draw and the mighty Division C to come. GB in Division A for men and women. Fixtures to be played on an home and away basis this summer for the right to qualify for Eurobasket 2011. Lest anyone is wondering where Ireland are - they've yanked their senior programme due to budgetary restrictions. A lot of unhappy folk over that decision.
15:10 Under-20 Men, Division B. Group C: GREAT BRITAIN, Belgium, Austria and Denmark. Tim Lewis will be happy with that one. This tournament's in Gissing and Oberwart, Austria from July 14-24.
15:05 Under-20 Women, Div B. GREAT BRITAIN, Macedonia, Belgium, Hungary, Czech Republic. Tough one this for GB. They're off to Kavadarsi, in Macedonia, July 15-25.
15:02 The Under-20 men draw coming up. Who will Tim Lewis and Damian Jennings be plotting against, this summer?
So that's the home countries sorted. Now for Great Britain following a short break at the Marriott Munchen.
14:40 Under-18 Men. ENGLAND, Romania, Denmark, Belarus, Israel in one group. SCOTLAND, Belgium, Portugal, Bosnia, Hungary in another. July 22- August 1 in Tel Aviv for your diary.
14:40 They're onto the Under-16 Men. Div B. ENGLAND get Ireland, Belarus, Czech Republic and Slovakia in their group. That's in Tallinn, Estonia, 5-14 August.
14:30 Under-18 Women. A corker this... ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, Finland, Estonia and Bulgaria, bound for Timisoara, Romania, 28 July - 8 August. Instant reaction from Scotland head coach, Donnie Finnie. "Ouch."
14:15 local time They're starting with Under-16 Women. Division B. ENGLAND, Macedonia, Romania and Slovakia all going to Skopje, 12-22 August.
14:00 Formalities first in Munich. There's a total of 285 teams in 20 FIBA Europe competitions will enter the draw, apparently. No frozen balls here.
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Wednesday, 6 January 2010
Britain learn seedings for 2011 Euro draw
Great Britain’s men have been placed in the second group of seeds for the draw for next summer’s qualifiers for Eurobasket 2011 which takes place in Germany on January 16.
With all eleven European participants in the 2010 World Championships automatically qualifying, the remaining 15 countries in the A Division will face off for the remaining places during August.
The hopefuls will be divided into three groups of five teams and will play home and away games. The teams placed first in each group and the two best second placed teams, will qualify for the EuroBasket 2011 finals directly – with one further berth up for grabs in a play-off.
Britain’s feat in reaching last year’s Eurobasket finals was enough to earn them the fifth-highest ranking after Poland, Macedonia, Latvia and Israel.
By contrast, GB women are seeded just 16th for their draw for the qualifiers for the 2011 Eurobasket in Poland after just avoiding relegation to Division B.
Both sides will be aiming to achieve the kind of results that would leave FIBA with no option but to hand the hosts a place in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
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With all eleven European participants in the 2010 World Championships automatically qualifying, the remaining 15 countries in the A Division will face off for the remaining places during August.
The hopefuls will be divided into three groups of five teams and will play home and away games. The teams placed first in each group and the two best second placed teams, will qualify for the EuroBasket 2011 finals directly – with one further berth up for grabs in a play-off.
Britain’s feat in reaching last year’s Eurobasket finals was enough to earn them the fifth-highest ranking after Poland, Macedonia, Latvia and Israel.
By contrast, GB women are seeded just 16th for their draw for the qualifiers for the 2011 Eurobasket in Poland after just avoiding relegation to Division B.
Both sides will be aiming to achieve the kind of results that would leave FIBA with no option but to hand the hosts a place in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
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Sunday, 20 September 2009
Eurobasket final - The live blog
SPAIN ARE THE EUROBASKET CHAMPIONS. Final score: Spain 85 Serbia 63. It's a blowout in the final. But let's not forget Spain were the favourites and they've finished in style here. It's fiesta time as Rudy Fernandez cuts down the nets. The Serbs look devastated on the bench but they've over-achieved here.
Spain out-rebound their rivals 42-24 and shoot 59%. Easy. Bill Russell and Oscar Robertson presenting the All-Tournament team prizes (Teodosic, Spanoulis, Fernandez, Lorbek and P. Gasol) and the MVP award - to Pau Gasol. But it is Juan Carlos Navarro who raises the bauble that matters most as the red and yellow fanaticos celebrate.
What a fortnight it's been. Until Turkey 2010, adios.
2:11 Spain 81 Serbia 56 29 points the biggest lead of the game. This has been a masterclass from the Spaniards. And - despite the occasionally lacklustre promotion of Eurobasket within Poland - there's been so many good memories over the fortnight. Pau kisses two team-mates as he heads off with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Just the MVP award to come for the Laker to cap a fabulous 2009.
6:28 Spain 75 Serbia 48. Memories of disappointment in Madrid of two years ago - and the five other runners-up medals - slowly drifting away now. Spain, so hideous early on in Poland, have come good at the right time - and then some. Serbia, still young, have an immense future ahead. But the world champions have really proven themselves a class apart. The chant of "Campeones" begins. Let the bench running begin.
End 3rd. Spain 67 Serbia 44. An even quarter. Spain now 10 minutes away their coronation. The Spanish flags a fluttering in the huge yellow and red section in the Spodek. Their team winning the battle of the boards 32-16. Ouch. Pau has 16 and 10. Kristic 12 and 4.
3:25 Spain 58 Serbia 44 A 13-2 run suddenly ignites the game again. Surely not a comeback?
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6:00 Spain 56 Serbia 37 The Spaniards playing astonishing defence. Velkovic, who'll play for Real Madrid next season, hits the three to cap an 8-0 run which brings the deficit within 20. Woo-pee-do. Ricky's playing his best tie of the tourney. The Spaniards call time-out.
HALF -TIME Spain 52 Serbia 29. It's men against boys here. The biggest lead as Pau takes his tally to 14 points and 8 rebounds on the buzzer but the Spanish in total and complete command and playing like world champions should. Serbia have no answer. Tripkovic has 10 of their 26 points but they're been out-classed. There really should be no way back.
BBC Sport's Rob Dugdale: Katowice - Spain's Champagne basketball continues - lead Serbia by 52-29 at half-time. What have the Serbs got in response in the second half?
3:07 Spain 43 Serbia 22. Chants of MVP inside the Spodek Arena after Pau takes his tally to 9 points. This is looking like a massacre. Remember when the Serbs beat Spain 66-57 in the first round before Espana was almost eliminated by Britain? Seems like another age now.
6:00 left in 2ndQ: Spain 33 Serbia 18. The Serbs shaking off their early nerves to get into this game. But Pau finishes an alley opp then Rudy finishes a break before Ricky's score forces a time-out.
End 1st Q: Spain 24 Serbia 14. Spain led 24-9 before a late 5-0 burst. What a start with an 8-0 run. Navarro is en fuego. He has 7. Plus Spain's defence is terrific. If not for Tripkovic's shooting, the underdogs would be a huge hole already. But we have wireless issues. Stay tuned.
2115 The anthems are done. The arena is jumping. Can Spain end their long await for a victory or will Serbia - average age 22 - lay down a marker for the new golden generation? This is going to be a gripping climax.
2100 Spanish absentee, Jose Calderon, speaking on FIBAE TV: "It's been tough for everyone. Since day one, they started at a low level but they've been getting better. The problem was playing and practicing without Pau Gasol. He's too important for us. We needed time. It's better now. But we need the last step in Eurobasket and that's the gold. We've been close too many times."
2050 So after 13 days, 53 games and a jaunt around Poland, it's come down to one game. Spain against Serbia for the Eurobasket 2009. A packed arena in Katowice. Celtics' great Bill Russell in the house. It's all shaping up to be a stunning finale to a tournament that has seen a huge number of wonderful games.
Spain out-rebound their rivals 42-24 and shoot 59%. Easy. Bill Russell and Oscar Robertson presenting the All-Tournament team prizes (Teodosic, Spanoulis, Fernandez, Lorbek and P. Gasol) and the MVP award - to Pau Gasol. But it is Juan Carlos Navarro who raises the bauble that matters most as the red and yellow fanaticos celebrate.
“I’m so proud of my team-mates and grateful to all the coaching staff that got us to this point,” said Gasol “I’m so happy to help Spain win this title for the first time. We started the tournament slowly and we were not playing collectively.
“But the last five and a half games we have played amazingly well. We came together when it mattered – at the end of the championships.”
What a fortnight it's been. Until Turkey 2010, adios.
2:11 Spain 81 Serbia 56 29 points the biggest lead of the game. This has been a masterclass from the Spaniards. And - despite the occasionally lacklustre promotion of Eurobasket within Poland - there's been so many good memories over the fortnight. Pau kisses two team-mates as he heads off with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Just the MVP award to come for the Laker to cap a fabulous 2009.
6:28 Spain 75 Serbia 48. Memories of disappointment in Madrid of two years ago - and the five other runners-up medals - slowly drifting away now. Spain, so hideous early on in Poland, have come good at the right time - and then some. Serbia, still young, have an immense future ahead. But the world champions have really proven themselves a class apart. The chant of "Campeones" begins. Let the bench running begin.
End 3rd. Spain 67 Serbia 44. An even quarter. Spain now 10 minutes away their coronation. The Spanish flags a fluttering in the huge yellow and red section in the Spodek. Their team winning the battle of the boards 32-16. Ouch. Pau has 16 and 10. Kristic 12 and 4.
3:25 Spain 58 Serbia 44 A 13-2 run suddenly ignites the game again. Surely not a comeback?
`
6:00 Spain 56 Serbia 37 The Spaniards playing astonishing defence. Velkovic, who'll play for Real Madrid next season, hits the three to cap an 8-0 run which brings the deficit within 20. Woo-pee-do. Ricky's playing his best tie of the tourney. The Spaniards call time-out.
HALF -TIME Spain 52 Serbia 29. It's men against boys here. The biggest lead as Pau takes his tally to 14 points and 8 rebounds on the buzzer but the Spanish in total and complete command and playing like world champions should. Serbia have no answer. Tripkovic has 10 of their 26 points but they're been out-classed. There really should be no way back.
BBC Sport's Rob Dugdale: Katowice - Spain's Champagne basketball continues - lead Serbia by 52-29 at half-time. What have the Serbs got in response in the second half?
3:07 Spain 43 Serbia 22. Chants of MVP inside the Spodek Arena after Pau takes his tally to 9 points. This is looking like a massacre. Remember when the Serbs beat Spain 66-57 in the first round before Espana was almost eliminated by Britain? Seems like another age now.
6:00 left in 2ndQ: Spain 33 Serbia 18. The Serbs shaking off their early nerves to get into this game. But Pau finishes an alley opp then Rudy finishes a break before Ricky's score forces a time-out.
End 1st Q: Spain 24 Serbia 14. Spain led 24-9 before a late 5-0 burst. What a start with an 8-0 run. Navarro is en fuego. He has 7. Plus Spain's defence is terrific. If not for Tripkovic's shooting, the underdogs would be a huge hole already. But we have wireless issues. Stay tuned.
2115 The anthems are done. The arena is jumping. Can Spain end their long await for a victory or will Serbia - average age 22 - lay down a marker for the new golden generation? This is going to be a gripping climax.
2100 Spanish absentee, Jose Calderon, speaking on FIBAE TV: "It's been tough for everyone. Since day one, they started at a low level but they've been getting better. The problem was playing and practicing without Pau Gasol. He's too important for us. We needed time. It's better now. But we need the last step in Eurobasket and that's the gold. We've been close too many times."
2050 So after 13 days, 53 games and a jaunt around Poland, it's come down to one game. Spain against Serbia for the Eurobasket 2009. A packed arena in Katowice. Celtics' great Bill Russell in the house. It's all shaping up to be a stunning finale to a tournament that has seen a huge number of wonderful games.
Earlier, Greece edged Slovenia 57-56 in the bronze medal game after Bostjan Nachbar missed a difficult shot from nearly half court with the buzzer. The poor Slovenes but their fans have provided so many of the great memories from this tournament. France finish fifth, courtesy of a 69-62 win over Croatia. While soon-to-be dethroned champs Russia thrashed Turkey 89-66 for seventh. But frankly, who cares? It's all about the victory now and the glory of gold. All tweets and comments welcome.
Saturday, 19 September 2009
Spain-Serbia final
World champions Spain will face Serbia on Sunday in Katowice in the European Championship final after both sides came through last night's semi-finals.
The Spaniards, who lost 66-57 to their youthful opponents in the group stages, thrashed Greece 82-64 with LA Lakers star Pau Gasol hitting 18 points.
While the Serbs out-lasted Slovenia 96-92 in a dramatic overtime thriller, with Milan Teodosic hitting 32.
The Spaniards, who lost 66-57 to their youthful opponents in the group stages, thrashed Greece 82-64 with LA Lakers star Pau Gasol hitting 18 points.
While the Serbs out-lasted Slovenia 96-92 in a dramatic overtime thriller, with Milan Teodosic hitting 32.
Euro Awards ballot
So who gets my Euros MVP vote? Has to be Pau Gasol. No question.
My Eurobasket All-Tournament team: Parker, Lakovic, Spanouilis, Lorbek and P Gasol. Like the NBA, positions may vary.
My Eurobasket All-Tournament team: Parker, Lakovic, Spanouilis, Lorbek and P Gasol. Like the NBA, positions may vary.
Down to the last four
So it's Spain v Greece and Serbia v Slovenia in the semi-finals. (Earlier, Croatia pipped Russia for the the final automatic world champs spot).
Imagine how GB coach Chris Finch feels - Britain's first round group was deathly indeed.
"We all knew we had a tough group when the draw was made, during our time in Poland and now that just confirms the quality that was in Group C," said Finch.
"It's also further confirmation that having been very competitive with all three teams without Luol [Deng] and Ben [Gordon] we are very close to breaking through."
For me, even Spain's imperfections should see them through - joined by the Slovenes. If so, will there be a repeat of their first-round result - 12 days ago in Warsaw - when the Balkanites triumphed easily.
Imagine how GB coach Chris Finch feels - Britain's first round group was deathly indeed.
"We all knew we had a tough group when the draw was made, during our time in Poland and now that just confirms the quality that was in Group C," said Finch.
"It's also further confirmation that having been very competitive with all three teams without Luol [Deng] and Ben [Gordon] we are very close to breaking through."
For me, even Spain's imperfections should see them through - joined by the Slovenes. If so, will there be a repeat of their first-round result - 12 days ago in Warsaw - when the Balkanites triumphed easily.
Thursday, 17 September 2009
Spain-Serbia move onward
Just watched Spain demolish France 86-66 (thanks to Lithuanian TV, what would we do without them now ESPN appeared to have lost interest?). The world champs are definitely back in business although it was a really sub-par showing from a French side that had been hitherto really impressive. Tony Parker was terrible but the Les Bleus failed to show up. Still not convinced by Espana but they may be gathering the momentum to scrape their way to victory on Sunday evening in Katowice.
Coupled with Serbia's trouncing of reigning champions Russia today, it confirms that GB were really in the Group of Death.
I think Greece and Slovenia will prevail on Friday and book semi-spots - although the Greeks' clash with Turkey could be the game of the tournament.
Shame to find out ESPN is not showing the final live, as well.
Coupled with Serbia's trouncing of reigning champions Russia today, it confirms that GB were really in the Group of Death.
I think Greece and Slovenia will prevail on Friday and book semi-spots - although the Greeks' clash with Turkey could be the game of the tournament.
Shame to find out ESPN is not showing the final live, as well.
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