Team GB welcomed home by fans
The Standard Life GB men’s basketball team were welcomed on to home soil today by enthusiastic crowds and cheerleaders at Heathrow’s Terminal 5.
The team returned home from their initial preparation camp period in Houston where they have been training for the last few weeks. Awaiting the unsuspecting players were huge cheering crowds all eager to catch a glimpse of the squad as they landed in the UK for the first time this year together.
Just outside the Terminal fans shot hoops on a temporary basketball court as the players joined in to show them their skills. The players interacted with the public, had pictures with fans and signed autographs.
Standard Life GB player, Pops Mensah-Bonsu from Tottenham, commented on the surprise: “It was awesome to come through and see all the fans waiting for us. It is a real lift for the side to know how big the home support is for us. Interacting with the fans and shooting some hoops with them at the airport was very cool and a unique opportunity.
“I can’t wait to play some games at home now that we have had a taste of the support we can expect from our fans this year.”
London born power forward, Eric Boateng, was excited to be back in the UK, he said: “Today was a special day to arrive back in the UK for the first time ahead of this summer. The reception we received when we came through arrivals was so unexpected and all the guys got a real kick out of it. We’re all even more excited to get going and show our fans what we can do.”
Head coach, Chris Finch added: “Today was a great boost for the squad. The atmosphere as we came through arrivals was fantastic and a very special moment for the players to feel the support from the public for GB this year.
“We are very focused on the rest of our preparations and excited to play some games at home in Sheffield and Manchester.”
The men will now play in two warm up games in Sheffield on the 14 and 15 July 2012 against Portugal as part of the Standard Life Game On tournament which sees the men play a double header with the GB women’s side. They then head to Manchester to face world number one ranked side, the USA on 19 July.
Standard Life GB player, Luol Deng did not land with his team mates today after returning to the UK earlier this week to fulfil personal and charitable commitments with his charity, the Luol Deng Foundation.
Recently traded Charlotte Bobcats player, Ben Gordon will not be joining the GB men’s squad as once hoped and indicated by the player himself.
Commenting on this absence, Chris Spice, Performance Director British Basketball said: “We are disappointed that Ben is not joining us however we are still on track to select our best ever roster this year.”