The GB Maxibasketball Men 55+ squad travelled to Spain last weekend to take part in the 7th Murcia International Masters Tournament, 1-3 December 2023 and won GOLD!
Also known as MAMBASKET 7, the 12-man British squad took on teams from Alicante, Germany and Granada to win the tournament with an unbeaten record. Captained by Phil Pearce (Aylesbury) the squad included, among others, ex-professional player Andrew Bailey (London), USA-based brothers Greg and Mark Modzelewski, centre Alberto De Andrade (Leeds), former Team FIAT Birmingham point guard Mark Bradbury (Nuneaton), forward/centre Noel Power (Cheshire), and ex-BBL player Keith Pringle (Erkenwald) who, along with World Championship 2023 teammate Nigel Fisher (USA-based), has moved up from 50+ to the 55+ category ahead of the Europeans next year.
The event gave GB M55+ Head Coach Mike Martin (London) a good opportunity to see some of his squad members in action ahead of the final selection camp in January, following which our national teams will be named for European Maxibasketball Championship 2024 in Italy. Coach Martin acknowledges that he will have his selection work cut out, as the GB 55+ squad is currently 24-players deep, such is the interest in representing Great Britain at this level.
Some of the GB Maxis Women also played in Murcia last weekend with the GB Pick & Mix 40+ and 55+ teams supported by coach David Mason (Sussex), who was recently announced as Head Coach GB Maxis W55+. Both teams came third in their respective competitions and despite results not going as hoped, our ladies maintained a sense of fairness, good spirit and friendship that embodies masters basketball. GB Maxis 55+ squad members, Tola Ayoola and Iyona Fearon (London-based) were delighted to receive a special trophy in recognition of this on behalf of the Pick & Mix 55+ team.
The GB Maxibasketball national team programme is part of the Basketball England Talent Pathway, and advocates age inclusive performance in basketball underpinned by robust clinical governance to ensure the continued welfare of older players taking part in competition. It is currently preparing teams to compete in next years European Maxibasketball Championship in Pesaro, Italy, and the World Maxibasketball Championship 2025 in Ticino, Switzerland.
