The FIMBA GB +70 Men have once again etched their names into British basketball history, successfully defending their European Championship title with an outstanding unbeaten campaign at the 2026 FIMBA European Championships in Athens.
Having claimed gold in Pesaro, Italy, in 2024, the squad arrived in Greece as defending champions. They left as champions once again after producing five superb team performances, culminating in a dominant 53–22 victory over Italy in the gold medal final.
The tournament began with what proved to be one of GB’s toughest tests, edging past hosts Greece 29–26 in a tense and fiercely contested opening game clinching the victory with a 3 pointer by Chris Canon. The victory laid the foundations for what would become a remarkable championship run.
Confidence grew with every game. Great Britain followed up with an impressive 56–38 victory over Japan, before producing one of the performances of the tournament to overwhelm Poland 60–30 through relentless defence and disciplined team basketball.
Meeting Greece for a second time, GB again showed their quality, controlling the contest from start to finish to secure a deserved 50–39 victory and book their place in the championship final.
Standing between Great Britain and successive European titles was a familiar rival in Italy. The reigning champions rose to the occasion magnificently.
From the opening tip, GB imposed themselves defensively, denying Italy easy scoring opportunities while executing patiently and efficiently at the offensive end. The team played with tremendous composure, shared the ball superbly and dominated both ends of the court. As the lead steadily increased, it became clear that the title would remain in British hands.
The final score of 53–22 reflected one of the finest performances ever produced by a FIMBA GB team on the European stage. To hold a talented Italian side to just 22 points in a European Championship final is a remarkable defensive achievement and a testament to the discipline, teamwork and commitment shown throughout the tournament.
Results
- Great Britain 29–26 Greece
- Great Britain 56–38 Japan
- Great Britain 60–30 Poland
- Great Britain 50–39 Greece
- Gold Medal Final: Great Britain 53–22 Italy
Across five games, the +70 Men scored 248 points while conceding just 155, finishing the tournament with an unbeaten 5–0 record and an average winning margin of almost 19 points per game.
Retaining a European Championship is never easy, but this exceptional group demonstrated exactly why they are regarded as one of Europe’s premier masters basketball teams. Their achievement reflects not only their skill and experience on the court but also the dedication, preparation and camaraderie that have become hallmarks of FIMBA GB basketball.
Winning European gold in Pesaro in 2024 was a historic achievement. Defending that title in Athens in 2026 makes this team one of the most successful ever to represent FIMBA GB.
Congratulations to every player, coach, team manager and member of the support staff on a magnificent accomplishment. Back-to-back European Champions—a fitting reward for an extraordinary team.
Coach Pete Mintoft said: “To retain a European title is an incredible achievement and I am immensely proud of every player in this squad. They showed resilience in every game, trusted each other throughout the tournament and played selfless team basketball from the opening match to the final. Our defence against Italy in the gold medal game summed up everything this group stands for—discipline, effort and togetherness. Winning one European Championship is special, but defending it against the best teams in Europe is something this group will always be remembered for. They have been outstanding ambassadors for FIMBA GB and for British masters basketball.”
