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3 July 2026  3 min read

GB Maxis teams make semis at FIMBA European Championship

First to reach the semi-final round were the GB Maxis F40 team. In a dazzling display of skill and teamwork, the F40s coached by former GB and England international player Anita Curtis, surged to a commanding victory over Team Switzerland winning the game 51-25.

However, they went down to Germany in the semis so will play for third place tomorrow against Poland tomorrow (Saturday).

Against the Swiss, the squad showcased their prowess with a remarkable 28-point lead at one point, including a flurry of three-pointers. From the opening tip, GB Maxis asserted their dominance leading 18-6 at the end of the first quarter. Manchester's Rehana Khalil shone brightly contributing six points and setting the tone early.

The second quarter saw GB tighten their grip, extending the score to 28-9 with contributions from multiple players including Wales' Sarah Wagstaff and Manchester's Charlene Ward. As the third period unfolded, the momentum slightly shifted with Team Switzerland fighting back to score eight points, but GB maintained a solid lead at 34-17. The final quarter showcased a stunning performance from Wagstaff, helping GB Maxis to finish strong at 51-25.

Next to reach the medal stages were our GB Maxis M55+ team led by Scotland's Alasdair Sinclair. In a nail-biting showdown at the Athens Olympic Stadium (OAKA), Coach Sinclair's men triumphed over Spain's Unicaja Master Málaga with a final score of 59-56 to set up a clash with FIMBA Italia today (Friday.

With a commanding lead of 29 points at one stage against the Spaniards, GB Maxis held their ground, battling through three ties and two lead changes to secure a well-deserved victory! 

The match began with a powerful performance from Nicholas Cooke, who led the scoring with nine points all from three-point range, helping GB establish an early 16-8 lead. The momentum continued into the second quarter, where Cooke added six more points pushing the score to 40-21 at halftime. However the ride turned in the third period as Spain roared back, narrowing the gap to just two points by the end of the third period. The final quarter was a fierce battle with lead changes igniting the crowd's excitement. Spain briefly took the lead but GB Maxis responded with tenacity, reclaiming control to win 59-56. The thrilling game showcased the resilience and skill of both teams, but it was Sinclair's GB Maxis that emerged victorious and are now in the hunt for medals.

Overall, the GB Maxibasketball performance programme has been successful in getting eight of it's 10 teams through to the quarter-final stages. The programme continues to improve incrementally, and has opened recruitment for the 2026/27 season ahead of their entry to the FIBA Masters Open 2027, which is expected to be hosted in central Europe next summer. 

Interested players and staff can pre-register for the open training sessions in September and October 2026 below:

• 5/6 September 2026 (women)
• 12/13 October 2026 (women)
• 3/4 October 2026 (men)
• 10/11 October 2026 (men)

Register here