On December 1st, 2024, the home of the Abingdon Eagles in Oxford became home of the FIMBA GB M50 and M55 teams as they held their final training session before squad selection for the highly anticipated 2025 FIMBA World Championships and 2025 Masters World Cup.
The atmosphere was tense as 30 exceptional players, demonstrating their prowess on the court, were to be reduced to 15 players.
M50 Head Coach Dom Short put the players through drills that were intense, and the players meticulously executed them pushing each other to their absolute best and ensuring a high-calibre, competitive environment. The quality on show was the best seen in many years with ex-BBL, NBL and US Scholarship players demonstrating that they may be older but haven’t lost any of their skills.
We looked at this session as the first serious one in the preparation for the tournaments but it feels like session nine such is the skill levels, dedication and teamwork
The session changed and was not just a practice anymore, it was a demonstration of excellence and commitment that set the standard for the upcoming competitions. Considering the players barely know each other, the camaraderie and determination exhibited by the players underscored the unity and strength of the team
The teams faced each other in the northern training session with the M55’s taking the win convincingly, the M50’s looking for revenge brought their game and not their name this time and both teams faced off in a spirited practice game that showcased the best of both squads.
The M50’s struggled initially to find easy baskets against the staunch defence of the M55’s. The M55’s capitalised on this, taking an early lead and dominating in several spells, displaying their experience and strategic gameplay. As the game progressed, the M50’s found their rhythm and their movement and passing became nothing short of outstanding. Despite the increased pressure, the M55 defence held strong, making every scoring attempt a challenging task for the younger team. With the M55 team leading 17-15 in the closing moments, the game seemed all but decided. However, in a dramatic turn of events, M50 Guard Justin Edwards made a clutch play, scoring with just 2 seconds left on the clock to tie the game at 17-17.
The game not only highlighted the competitive spirit and high skill level of both teams but also set the stage for what promises to be an exciting journey to the FIMBA World Championships. Both teams left the court with their heads held high, ready to continue their preparation and strive for excellence on the global stage.
The FIMBA GB M50 and M55 teams are ready to make their mark and bring further success to Great Britain.
