WCBT is the UK's No1 International Pro Am event, open to high calibre players
WCBT FOUNDER ERIC DOUGLIN,WINS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD
World Club Basketball Founder – wins Sussex Sports Award Volunteer of the Year Award 2022.
Eric Douglin, founder of the World Club Basketball Tournament was crowned winner of the Sussex Sports Award Volunteer of the Year 2022, at the Sussex Sports Award ceremony last week (24/11/2022). Eric also finished runner up in the Outstanding Contribution to Sports & Physical category.
Eric was already thrilled to be nominated in 2 categories, but to make the top 3 shortlist in both, was icing on the cake.
Background
The World Club Basketball Tournament, an annual team event for overseas and domestic senior men’s teams, was founded in 2015 to provide opportunities for players around the world to compete in international competition.
Kidney Transplant
Eric received a kidney from his wife Mandi in 2010, after being diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in 2005, a partnership was formed with Kidney Research UK. Eric is currently an ambassador for Kidney Research UK, which has been a dedicated charity of WCBT since its inception, to raise awareness on the need for organ donor
Stoma Surgery
As if dealing with the impact was a challenge, Eric would go on to receive lifesaving emergency surgery in January 2021 after his bowel ruptured, and he needed to have a colostomy and a stoma formed.
Eric had a long and difficult recovery after the surgery; however, he was determined to get healthy and back to raising awareness and organising the UK’s only international pro-am basketball event.
Once he was well enough to return to action, Eric went back to organising WCBT2022, to raise awareness not only for kidney awareness, but stoma awareness as well after personally becoming aware of the impact those living with a stoma face. As a result, Eric also became an ambassador for the charity Colostomy UK, in order to raise awareness for those impacted by stomas and associated conditions.
Sussex Sports Awards
The winners attending the prestigious awards ceremony were presented with the with a trophy and certificate, with the 2 runners up from the 7 categories receiving a certificate at the event held at the Sussex Cricket Club in Hove, East Sussex.
Eric was selected as the winner in the V.O.Y category by the judges from a high calibre category of nominations across Sussex, all of which had made a major contribution to sport across the county.
WCBT2022
The 6th annual WCBT event was hosted in Hastings, East Sussex over the weekend 3rd & 4th September, and featured 10 teams from around the world including USA, Lithuania, Canada, UK and Italy.
The weekend also included a free youth coaching session hosted by one of the competing team New York Court Kings, which was attended by over 40 excited young Sussex players. This was a unique opportunity for the young players to receive coaching by overseas professional players, & then be able to watch two days of international competition in their county.
Eric Douglin said " The award is a fantastic achievement and wouldn’t have been possible without all of the teams, volunteers and sponsor who have supported the event, and especially my wife Mandi, who has been by my side though some difficult times. From a personal perspective I hope that I can be an inspiration to anyone who has been impacted by invisible illness, and raise awareness for charities Kidney Research UK & Colostomy UK”
Preparations are currently underway for the World Club Basketball Tournament 2023, with entries already received from teams including Hawaii, Serbia, USA, Spain and Japan.
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WCBT 2022 PRESS RELEASE
TOBEN OF CANADA TAKE THE WCBT2022 TITLE
The Summerfields Leisure Centre played host to some excellent basketball action over the weekend of the 3rd& 4th September, when the Bexhill Giants Basketball Club hosted their annual World Club Basketball Tournament & welcomed ten teams to the seaside town of Hastings.
This was the sixth annual WCBT to be held in the town and the first since the covid lockdown of 2019,and was opened the Mayor of Hastings Councilor James Bacon, and the Deputy Mayor, who welcomed the international teams to the town and wished them well during the tournament.
The objective of the tournament was to raise the profile of UK basketball by introducing high calibre teams into a competitive tournament and to promote the sport to new fans.
In addition to raise funds and awareness for the charity partner Kidney Research UK, after the organizer Eric Douglin received a kidney from his wife in 2010, and Colostomy UK, after Douglin had lifesaving surgery after his bowel ruptured in 2021.
The growth of the tournament has seen team from afar as Tobago, Australia, India and New Zealand enquire about competing in the tournament and has attracted media attention globally, including one of the USA’s top media outlets Baller TV.
Competing Teams
The 10 competing teams USAF Lakenheath Eagles (USA), New York Court Kings(USA), Oxford Hoops (Eng), Coventry Tornadoes (Eng) & Viesulas (Lithuania) , were joined by) , Argyle Kings (Eng) & Toben (Canada), Hoop Goon (USA) Ambassy International (Italy) & Whitstable BC (Eng).
The teams were split into two groups of four with the top two teams in each group progressing to the ‘A’ Semi Finals and positions three and four progressing to the ‘B’ Semi Finals. The Groups were randomly selected as follows.
Group A: USAF Lakenheath, New York Court Kings, Oxford Hoops, Viesulas, & Coventry Tornadoes.
Group B: Argyle Kings, Hoop Goon, Whitstable BC, Ambassy International & Toben
After an exciting and tense first day of action, the USAF Lakenheath Eagles & Toben progressed from to the ‘A’ Semi Finals as group winners, both teams with 100% records after 4 matches. They were joined by New York Court Kings & Whitstable in the ‘A’ Semi Finals as runners up in their respective Groups.
The ‘B’ Semi Finals for the 3rd& 4th placed teams in their Groups would be contested by Oxford Hoops, Coventry Tornadoes, Argyle Kings, & Hoop Goon.
The 9th & 10 Playoff match would be competed between Ambassy International & Viesulas, all of the matches were to be played on Day 2 of the tournament.
Before the Day 2 action was underway, the New York Court Kings hosted a youth coaching clinic which was attended by 30 local youngsters, who received the unique experience of being coached by overseas stars.
Then it was onto the action of the ‘B’ Semifinals, which saw an all-England match up with Argyle Kings ‘going on to defeat Coventry Tornadoes, & the second ‘B’ semifinal would see the National League team Oxford Hoops defeat the USA side Hoop Goon, in a close and exciting match up.
The ‘B’ semi final would see another all-England clash with Argyle Kings taking on the impressive Oxford Hoops.
‘A ‘Semi Finals
With the excitement of the day building and the crowd growing, the ‘A’ semi finals lived up to their billing and produced some excellent high calibre basketball, which saw tournament newcomer’s Toben (Canada) defeat two time finalist New York Court Kings, to reach the final.
In the second semi-final USAF Lakenheath, making their 6th appearance at the WCBT showed their undoubted skill and talent against the experienced Whitstable BC, as the exciting match went to overtime, with Lakenheath getting the win 36-33.
The ‘A’ Final would see the two teams with unbeaten 100% records Toben & USAF Lakenheath face off against each other.
‘B’ Final
The Oxford Hoops team, who were using the tournament as preparation for their National League Division 2 campaign and, came into the ‘B’ Final as slight favorites against an Argyle Kings team which were playing to together for the first time. This proved to be the case is an action packed and exciting match, with the Hoops running out comfortable winners 41-24, after a close start, to take the ‘B’ WCBT title.
‘A’ Final
The last match of the day, the ‘A’ Final saw the two teams which finished top of their group with 100% record Toben of Canada & USAF Lakenheath Eagles.
The first few minutes saw the teams exchange baskets, with both teams looking to claim their first WCBT title. However, it was the impressive offensive from the Toben side which included Canadian international players which Lakenheath could not match over the course of the match, which saw the experienced Canadian team run out run out winners 54-42.
WCBT Founder Eric Douglin, said “I was overwhelmed at how well the tournament went and the standard of play the teams brought to the event. It was great to be back for the first time since 2019, after the covid restrictions
All of the teams were of the highest standard and I was privileged to have them take part in the event in the town. Every year the WCBT grows from strength to strength, and we are inundated with teams looking to take part and visit Hastings, bringing tourism and exposure to the town.
Its also great that we can raise funds and awareness for Colostomy UK & Kidney Research UK through sport.
We’d like to thank all of our sponsors, including “ Heatwave Print, Welland Medical, Team Fire Attire, Salts Medical, Shea Luv, Always Ballin & On Point Canada.
WCBT Background
ABOUT THE WORLD CLUB BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT C.I.C
The multi 'Award Winning' World Club Basketball tournament is‘ The UK’s No1 International Basketball Event’ hosted by Bexhill Giants Basketball Club of East Sussex , England, the tournament is open to senior male players from teams across the world, including professional, semi pro or high standard amateurs.
WCBT was founded in 2015 and since then has included players who have competed ay the highest level around the world, including the NBA, NCAA, Euro League , and other professional leagues around the world.
WCBT 2022 will be our 6th consecutive event and will host teams from across the world.
WCBT2022 will included the following teams : Kitsap Admirals USA , Hoop Goon USA, Argyle Kings (England), London Patriots (Poland) , USAF Lakenheath USA, Viesulus (Lithuania) ,Toben (Canada) New York Court Kings (USA), Coventry Tornadoes (England) & Whitstable BC (England)
There will also be a free children's coaching clinic, music, competitions, giveaways and entertainment over the weekend making WCBT a fun filled activity for all the family at one of the Europe's best basketball events.
WCBT - ENGLAND
Background
The objective of tournament is to provide players off all abilities the opportunity to compete against other international teams, showcase their talent in front of coaches in attendance and experience the fantastic architecture and history of London and England.
The tournaments has previously featured teams from countries including Canada, USA England, Europe and the Philippines. In addition the tournament will also be filmed for a documentary and overseas TV plus other social media outlets, the matches will be streamed live via YouTube and British Basketball League, English Basketball League & European coaches will be invited to attend to select players for the 2022/23 season
Tournament Location & Details
The tournament is hosted at the Summerfields Leisure Centre in Hastings East Sussex, England, Bohemia Road TN34 1AT.
Day One will be played on two courts for each group, Day 2 , will be played on the show court for the playoffs and finals.
The tournament is endorsed by the England governing body Basketball England and is covered by £5 million public liability insurance to cover injuries to Basketball England registered members.
The town of Hastings is in the South of England, East Sussex 37 miles from London Gatwick Airport, 5 and 25 miles from Brighton and approximately 90 minutes by train from London Victoria and London Bridge train stations. Heathrow airport also has very straightforward train links to Hastings via London underground train stations.
There are direct train links from Gatwick Airport to Hastings train station with regular taxi services available virtually 24/7.
Transportation can also be arranged to and from the airport if required by our preferred supplier Vic's Transport , who will offer discounted rates to teams competing in the tournament.
Hotels and accommodation is located at various locations across East Sussex and should be organised by the teams however we will be happy to support on request