Tweetcap: GB’s EuroBasket Dream Ended by Iceland Defeat

By Bradley Gains on August 21, 2014

Great Britain Senior Men saw their hopes of reaching a fourth consecutive EuroBasket cut short by Iceland last night in a 71-69 defeat at the Copper Box.

And some of the GB players took to Twitter following the game to offer their appreciation for the fans support and vowed to carry on fighting.

Kieron Achara, Forward

Thanks to everyone that has shown our squad support. We will continue to fight because of you guys. You make us proud to wear the GB jersey

— Kieron Achara (@KieronAchara) August 20, 2014

Devon van Oostrum, Guard

Tough loss… We'll keep fighting… Thanks for the support! @gbbasketball

— Devon Van Oostrum (@DevonVanOostrum) August 20, 2014

Drew Sullivan, Forward

The support over the couple home games has been absolutely immense. Thanks to everyone that either attended our supported from home #TeamGB

— Drew Sullivan (@drewsullivan8) August 20, 2014

The loss comes as a hammer blow for GB and notable members of the basketball community gave their reactions to last night’s defeat.

Mark Woods – leading British basketball journalist

No EuroBasket, No Olympics, No major tournaments for at least three more years. What now for the men's Great Britain basketball team ?

— Mark Woods (@markbritball) August 20, 2014

FIBA Europe yet to decide if there will be a 1st qualifying round in 2015 – could be GB will go two years without a competitive fixture

— Mark Woods (@markbritball) August 20, 2014

Dan Routeledge – BT Sport commentator

Never been so crushingly disappointed as I am right now

— Daniel Routledge (@dan_routledge) August 20, 2014

Mark Clark – Director of GB Regional Institute, Barking Abbey

Devastating loss. Trying to look beyond result. However you assess wherever you look it is devastating.

— mark clark (@clarkabbey) August 20, 2014

With the future of the GB programme unclear, PR manager Chris Egerton also had his say, insisting that ‘GB is not going away’.

I said it in the press conference. I'll say it again. @gbbasketball is not going away. There is plenty to work on, but plenty to fight for.

— Chris Egerton (@EgertonSport) August 20, 2014

GB still have one final game to play in Group A of the 2015 EuroBasket qualifiers as they travel to Sarejevo on Sunday to take on Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Do you like our work?

We have a tiny favour to ask. In 2018 we set out to make Hoopsfix sustainable by building our relationship directly with our readers. Up until now, Hoopsfix has been creating editorials, videos and podcasts to provide sorely missing coverage of the British game and its distinct culture and community.

We have funded Hoopsfix with our freelance work creating basketball media, but sadly that means not only does it fall behind our client’s priorities, but some of those clients are the same organisations we need to report objectively on putting us in a conflicted position.

We want to devote more time to our mission of helping British basketball reach its potential, and produce even more content for the basketball community by making Hoopsfix a sustainable 100% independent business funded directly by our readers through Patreon.

If everyone who enjoys our content chose to support us, our future would be much more secure. For as little as $3 per month, you can support Hoopsfix – and it only takes a minute.

We are tremendously honoured and humbled to have a community of people who value what we do, and we look forward to being at the forefront of the British game as it continues to evolve.

Support Hoopsfix