BASKETBALL: England excess
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Players from three of the Budweiser League's leading clubs face their fourth game in five days, when the 18th annual World Invitation Club Basketball tournament begins at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre this afternoon.
And for the five players who have been on international duty in Iceland, two defeats out of three against one of the few European nations ranked below England may not have been ideal preparation.
England's trip to the Arctic Circle ended in a 104-101 defeat on Thursday night. Three of the players, Thames Valley Tigers' Peter Scantlebury, Neville Austin and Steve Nelson play in the opening WICB senior men's game against Trencin, from Slovakia.
Ian Whyte, London Towers' seven-foot tall international is then on duty against Glasgow Brightsiders before Karl Brown, of London Leopards, lines up against Honved of Hungary. Den Helder of the Netherlands play the winners of the Towers game in tomorrow's semi-finals.
This year's WICB has been restricted to just seven senior men's teams and a three-day event, two days shorter than in recent years, although there are also similarly scaled-down tournaments for women and junior men.
According to David Last, the tournament organiser, the England trip led him to cut back the tournament. "I wanted Thames Valley here, as former champions, and both the London teams because they are very well supported," he said. "But there would clearly have been problems for them with a five-day tournament as we would have started the event on Thursday."
But Last also acknowledges that in recent years the quality of opposition has not warranted a five-day tournament. Funds are even tighter this year as the event does not have a name sponsor.
WORLD INVITATION CLUB TOURNAMENT (Crystal Palace National Sports Centre) Senior men: Thames Valley v Trencin (4.30pm); London Towers v Glasgow Brightsiders (6.15pm); London Leopards v Honved (8pm). Junior men's games start at 9.30am.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments