FunctionAll, CMBC & Sapphire all start strong in Week 1 of Hoopsfix Pro-Am

By Frederick Boerner-Kleindienst on June 17, 2025

The 2025 Hoopsfix Pro-Am Summer League tipped off with highly anticipated matchups at Brixton Rec, delivering excitement and showcasing notable performances across the board.

Grit and tenacity on the defensive-end characterised the early matchups whilst conversely the final two games provided lethal shooting and highlight dunks.

Early leads in the table were secured for FunctionAll, CMBC and Team Emerald in the league that has a men’s and women’s division, with the men split into two pools of 4 and the women in a single group of 4.

In the opening game, Team Sapphire secured a convincing 71-54 victory over Team Emerald. WNBL D1 MVP Lindsey Cleary shined brightly, recording 19 points, seven rebounds, and three assists, while Ipswich’s Harriet Welham provided a powerful offensive surge with a game-high 22 points in her debut.

Josephine Maignomo led Emerald in defeat as the only player to reach double digits with 10 points.

The second contest featured a gritty defensive battle, with Team Ruby edging out Team Diamond 44-34. Last year’s Hoopsfix All-Star Classic MVP Yazmin Edwards was pivotal, returning back from her Freshman year in the US, she contributed 14 points and seven rebounds, while Jenelle Grant finished a rebound off a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds. Kat Goldsby led Diamond with 10 points.

Both teams demonstrated relentless defensive intensity, resulting in limited scoring opportunities throughout.

The men’s division opened with Hoopspace prevailing over Team Jet, 61-46.

GB point guard Jelani Watson-Gayle spearheaded Hoopspace with an impressive performance of 14 points, six rebounds, and two assists. Hoopspace’s cohesive team defense and gritty play significantly hindered Team Jet’s scoring ability, underlining their defensive identity. Commonwealth Games gold medalist Kayne Henry back up Watson-Gayle with 13 points, while Damarni Velinor went 4 of 18 from the floor for his 11 points to lead Team Jet.

Game four saw FunctionAll dominate Basketball Nxtion in a one-sided affair, securing a commanding 72-42 victory.

GB’s Amin Adamu was influential with 19 points and five assists, demonstrating sharp shooting and persistent defensive effort. Sheffield Sharks’ Rj Eytle-Rock had 12 points and two time Pro-Am MVP Peter Turay had 10 points and nine rebounds to open the 2025 campaign. FunctionAll remained in control from tip-off to the final buzzer, as Nxtion were led by 10 points each from Romario Spence and Abdul Wurie.

In game five, Team SBB displayed a balanced, high-energy performance in their 74-53 win against Team TMB.

Brandon Tchouya, back from the US, energised the crowd with highlight-worthy put-back dunks, while Flynn Boardman-Raffet excelled across the court, tallying 13 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. Despite the loss, GB big man Kavell Bigby-Williams stood out for TMB with 18 points, nine rebounds, and four assists. Team SBB appears exceptionally promising, setting expectations high for their progression throughout the summer.

The weekend concluded as Team CMBC overwhelmed the Hometown Heroes 103-73 in a thrilling offensive showcase.

Initially quiet, CMBC swiftly escalated into a scoring frenzy that the Hometown Heroes could not counter. James Claar led the dominant effort with 17 points, 12 rebounds, and two assists, complemented by Manchester Basketball’s Kyle Carey’s sharp shooting of 16 points, hitting nearly 60% from beyond the arc.

A sensational poster dunk by Toto Fagbenle energised an already electrified crowd midway through the third quarter, capping an extraordinary team effort featuring six players scoring in double digits and securing CMBC’s memorable entry into the Pro-Am season.

Watch back all the games from Week 1, here.

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