NE Knights at 31st Eurobasket in Lloret de Mar
NE Knights at 32nd Eurobasket International Tournament Spain 2026
The hard work which began back in October 2025 paid off with a wonderful week of basketball and shared memories for the 54 strong group of 44 players and support team of 10 coaches and managers who travelled to the 32nd Eurobasket International Tournament in Lloret de Mar, Spain in July.
Initial training sessions began at the beginning of October with the final trials taking place in early January. This was followed by a programme of team training, whole group sharpening sessions and team building in preparation for the trip to the EuroBasket 2026 international basketball tournament on the Costa Brava in Spain.
The tournament, which ran from 28th June -45th July 2026, involved over 60 teams from 16 different countries
This is an account of the week’s events in pictures
Day 0: Saturday, 27th June - the departure
On Saturday morning members of the North East Knights U16 and U18 squads and their coaches and managers met in Dublin Airport to begin their journey to the 6-day Eurobasket 2026 basketball tournament in Lloret de Mar. Unusually the squad travelled in two different groups with the girls’ teams and mentors travelling with Aer Lingus and the boys setting off a little earlier with Ryanair.
Following a few delays in Dublin with the departures, and the small issue of a missing suitcase in Barcelona, everyone was soon reunited for the short journey to the teams’ accommodation in the Hotel Cleopatra Spa. Having stayed here before the group quickly settled in to enjoy its stay.
Day 1: Sunday, 28th June - First Day of Games
All four of the teams were in action on the courts on the first day, with 4 games in total.
Schedule for Sunday, 28th June
Sunday was to be the girls teams day with both the U16 and U18 girls coming away with wins against NBAO Nice from France(U16s) and local Spanish club Carquefou BC(U18s).
The boys had a tougher start to the week with the U18 boys losing out to Italian side Cest Savona and the U16 Boys not able to overtake team Alginet from Spain, despite a great fight back in the second half.
U18 Boys
Day 2: Monday 29th June - Games & Opening Ceremony
While the U16 Girls had a rest day, all the other teams were in action on day 2 when both boy’s teams recorded their first wins against teams while the U18 girls were not so lucky in their game against Turkish team TEŞVİKİYE
Opening Ceremony
On Monday evening all roads led to El Moli for the Opening Ceremony - the Knights team captains, coaches and managers led the delegation on the floor while the flag bearer for the NE Knights squads was the U18 Boys captain, Lee Cogan. The singing of the national anthem was led by Sarah Jane Sherlock and Aine Keogan
Opening Ceremony 2026
Days 3,4
Games continued for all teams with the squads meeting more players from Italy, France, Spain and Turkey as well as some boys teams from Mexican club BC Penquin. Having had a relaxing day off on Wednesday the U16 girls had a two game day on Thursday. They played their final group game against local team C.B. Torelló, in the morning to complete a full complement of wins for the group and qualifying the team for the W2009/10 1 V 2 final that evening.
Each team had a game free day during the week which gave everyone a chance to spend a little time on the beach and do some shopping. The squads also enjoyed their team meals on various evenings.
FINALS DAY
While most finals were played on Friday, the U16 girls played their 1 V 2 final against French side NBAO, Nice on Thursday evening - the second of tow games for the team that day. Having the benefit of a qualified physiotherapist as part of the support team, the girls were given some guidelines on preparing well for a second game in the hot and humid conditions in Lloret de Mar
Although the team had won their group game against NBAO, Nice earlier in the week, the players and mentors knew there would be nothing easy about the final but with their preparations well made everyone set out for the final feeling optimistic. As the girls carried out their final warm up the supporters in the stands were in fine voice when it came to singing Amhrán na bhFiann and cheering them on.
As in so many of their games the girls got off to a slow start and finished the first quarter 12-21 behind. However, there was no panic, the girls stuck to the game plan and the score at the end of the first half so the two teams neck and neck with a score line of 23-24.
In the third quarter the strength on the Knights bench paid off handsomely with enthusiastic fresh legs ready to step up and the girls were 42- 37 ahead at the end of the third quarter. The final quarter saw their lead extended with the result finishing up as 64-49, seeing the Knights selection winning the 1V2(A) final in this age category twice in a row with the 2025 squad having won at last year’s tournament. A great result for all of the hard work by the players and their mentors.
U16 Girls back at the hotel
Day 6: Finals & Closing Ceremony
The final day saw all of the other Knights teams in action in their respective 3 V 4 Finals with the U16 Boys starting the day off bright and early in the M10 F3/4 against a Turkish team Teşvikiye. Unfortunately it was not to be the boys’ day losing out by just 5 points at the end of the game.
Finals schedule
U16 Boys warm up
Next in action at 2.30pm were the u18 Girls in the W08/09 F3/4 over in the Pompeu Fabre, the second main venue used by the tournament. Taking on a girls team from the same Turkish club, the Knights girls found the going tough and the tired legs at the end of a long tough week caught up with them.
The U18 boys followed with the M08 F3/4 against a strong Italian team B4Trieste. The Knights got off to a great start ahead by 15-11 at the end of the first quarter. By half time the two teams were still very close with a score line of 36-31. In the second half the Italian boys began to assert themselves more with the lead changing hands.
The final quarter was a very tight affair and the Knights squad was very unlucky to have a player injured finally missing out by just the minimum of one basket at the end. A very tense an nerve wrecking experience for everyone there and those tuning in a and tracking the game from home.
Final minutes of M08 F3/4 game
A trip to the hospital in Blanes followed to have the injury seen to. Sadly that meant the the player and coaches missing the closing ceremony and awards later on but happily they were back the hotel in time to greet the rest of the group on its return
Awards & Closing Ceremony
After dinner it was back to El Moli again where most of the Knights contingent (minus 1 casualty and 2 coaches) participated in the Awards & Closing Ceremony. This was an opportunity to celebrate a great week’s basketball, having new experiences, forming new friendships and renewing old ones with others involved in the Eurobasket tournament in Lloret de Mar. While the winners receive awards every player and coach at the tournament is recognised.
MVP Awards
This year the tournament organisers also presented 'MVP’ awards to one player from each team who had performed consistently well throughout the tournament. Congratulations to the NE Knights winners:
U16 Girls - Cara Costello
U16 Boys - Emmett Staunton
U18 Girls - Ciara Doherty
U18 Boys - Lee Cogan
After the presentations there was plenty of time to take photos of club groups, families and friends to record the memories of Eurobasket 2026
Final Night
Coaches and Managers
Of course none of this would be possible without those who volunteered their time and expertise to make it happen. The Knights team of coaches and managers not only looked after the players during the tournament but also carried out a huge amount of preparation in advance. As well as holding regular training sessions from September ‘25 to June ‘26, members of the group looked after designing and sourcing the teamwear and backpacks, booked and sorted the flights itinerary for the whole group and looked after accommodation and other logistical details needed for a project like this – thank you Brian, Tom, Jane, Michael, Tony, Kevin, Emmett, Sinead, Jessica, Debbie, Clare and Ursula.
The staff and volunteers for the tournament play a huge part in making it such a success to thanks also to Giusseppe and his hard working team.
SPONSORS
The NEBB Knights are indebted to the following sponsors for their financial support of the 2026 trip:
O’Reilly Hoofcare
DIGI
Noel Keogan Contractor
McVicar’s Combilift & Glenpark Montessori
Knights’ Sponsors 2026
And Finally
A huge thank you to everyone involved with the North East Knights since the preparations for Eurobasket 2026 began – players committing to training and parents making sure they got there - all that work has led to what was an amazing week for the U16 and U18 players - It couldn't have been done without everyone playing their part.
A particular word of thanks to the players who worked hard to make sure that families at home were kept up to date - especially Fionn who set up and organised the You Tube videos of the games, as well as everyone who helped with recording the games. Thanks to those who took photographs, as without that there wouldn’t be such a large set of images of another great trip for the North East Knights.
If you would like any information about the NE Knights, inclding forthcoming trialls for 2026.27 you can contact knights@nebb.ie