Henry Davies has been confirmed by Head Coach, Des Williams, as his player of the tournament at the recent World Cup in Croatia.
“You don’t have to be paid to be a professional” and this adage could not be more apt in the case of our player of the tournament. Henry Davies exemplified professionalism, calmness and what Masters Basketball is about. Despite being included in the team at short notice, Davies slotted into the team’s culture as though he’d been part of it for years. His calm and considered personality brought a sense of ease to both players and coaches alike.
On court, he put in performances that younger players would have been proud of and did so with consummate ease. Under that unassuming demeanour is a competitor, someone that has standards that he holds himself to and others around him rise too. He managed to find space in a crowded zone, brought smaller players into driving positions and collected rebounds despite some strong physical contact. All without a single syllable of complaint.
Off the court, Davies was calm and considered and his knowledge of the international game was invaluable. He was an asset to the team and one that worked away in the background doing all the things that go unseen by others. Such is the value in his opinion that he was often the barometer for pre and post team talks. He won’t be joining the team in Switzerland and he will be missed not only by the team but also his Head Coach.
I am a very lucky coach to have had Henry onboard and I cannot express my gratitude enough for the work that he put in. Henry is more than a player, he is a valuable member of the +55’s and an asset to FIMBA GB as a whole as he exemplifies what Masters Basketball is all about
Head Coach Des Williams.
