GB call-ups for Northumbria’s top hoops pair
NORTHUMBRIA University’s women’s basketball programme enjoyed a double boost this week with two Sport Central favourites pressed into national service.
Head coach Chris Bunten has retained his role as assistant coach with the GB Under-20 squad ahead of a busy summer of FIBA action.
And star guard Nicolette Fong Lyew Quee has been rewarded for another outstanding season in the WBBL with her latest senior call-up.
A Championship-winning playcaller in 2016, Bunten resumes his partnership with head coach Jose Maria Buceta.
And he admitted: “I’m so proud to be a part of this set-up yet again.
“These are exciting times for youth basketball in Great Britain and I can’t wait to work with the game’s rising stars again this summer.
“On a personal level it’s great to be involved and it can only enhance Northumbria’s reputation as a basketball university.”
British Basketball chief executive Lisa Wainwright said: “We are delighted to name such strong coaching and management teams to all of the GB national youth squads.
“Using the experience and talent within the home countries, we’ve been able to appoint high quality coaches and excellent team support personnel to all squads.”
Fong Lyew Quee was on the verge of a senior cap last year only to miss out on the final GB squad in 2016.
But the talented playmaker boosted her reputation as one of British basketball’s rising stars by anchoring an injury-hit Team Northumbria roster this season.
Fong Lyew Quee suffered setbacks of her own – including a concussion which ended her season prematurely – but remained one of Bunten’s go-to players.
Now she is targeting next week’s Belarus tournament after joining the GB senior squad for a week-long camp.
The Northumbria University International Sport Management student has been named in a 15-strong squad.
The first camp of 2017 took place in Loughborough this week with the Belarus invitational event starting on Sunday.
GB will come up against the hosts, Argentina and Croatia ahead of a summer of competitive FIBA action.
This week’s preparation camp offers coach Buceta an opportunity to assess recently graduated US-based players alongside the very best in WBBL-based talent.
And a second camp in July will see another raft of big names added to the current group.
“This is the first activity of the new campaign of the GB senior national team,” said Buceta.
“This will be an important experience to improve the level of the team and an opportunity to see new players at international level.
“I’d like to thank all the players who have accepted this new challenge for their generous commitment to the team.”