Wales 40s Men v Great Britain 60s Men
Wales Over claim Victory Over Great Britain Over 60s
The Wales Over-40s Men’s team got their preparations for the upcoming GB Masters competition off to an impressive start with a hard-fought victory over a talented and experienced Great Britain Over-60s side.
In a highly competitive encounter at the Archers Arena, Wales made a strong start before GB responded to take control of the scoreboard for large periods of the game. Despite trailing for much of the contest, Wales remained composed, repeatedly closing the gap before eventually regaining the lead in the closing stages and holding firm to secure a deserved victory.
The win was built on determination, resilience and teamwork, with every player contributing to a performance that demonstrated the strength and potential of the Wales Masters programme.
Head Coach Pentxo Cervantes praised his squad’s character and fighting spirit:
“Great victory against a GB team that was tougher than expected. We started the match well but in a blink they took over the score and we found ourselves behind for many parts of the match. However, we were always able to close the gap until we recovered and put ourselves ahead and kept it that way until the end. I’m very proud of the entire squad and how they fought for the whole 40 minutes, overcoming adversity and achieving the win.”
Assistant Coach Nic Bakrachev was equally pleased with the team’s performance:
“Great win over an experienced and well-coached GB team. By playing together and making the right reads in crucial moments, we managed to prevail.
Every game is a lesson. This is our first game of the season and next time we will be even more tuned into how to play with each other and push the boundaries further.”
Leading the way offensively for Wales was Rhys Williams, who produced an outstanding display with 27 points. He was well supported by Richard Rees with 16 points and Eddie Kizito with 10 points.
Wales Over-40s Scorers
- Rhys Williams – 27
- Richard Rees – 16
- Eddie Kizito – 10
- John Clarke – 4
- Lee Davies – 4
- Daf Morse – 3
- Paul Bowen – 1
The victory provides a positive start to the season for the Wales Over-40s squad and gives the group a strong platform to build upon as preparations continue for the British Masters competitions which will take place in Cardiff over the weekend of the 13th and 14th June.
Basketball Wales is proud to be fielding both Men’s and Women’s Over-40s teams in this year’s GB Masters Basketball Competition, as part of our ongoing commitment to providing lifelong opportunities for players across Wales to continue playing and competing in basketball.
The Masters programme is an important part of Basketball Wales’ strategic vision, ensuring that players can remain involved in the game beyond their traditional playing years while continuing to represent Wales at a national level.
Congratulations to all players and staff on an excellent team performance and a well-earned victory.
