Cardiff and Vale College’s Basketball Academy has won the UK-wide Association of Colleges (AoC) Sport Championships in their discipline for the second year running.
Last year, the Basketball Academy made history by becoming the first Welsh team to win the title. Now they are the first Welsh team to have won it in two consecutive years.
The Academy travelled up to Nottingham recently to compete in the AoC Sport Championships. The Basketball tournament was split into two groups of five teams, with first and second place in both groups qualifying the semi-finals and then the final from there.
CAVC finished its group 4-0, beating Richard Huish College, Brockenhurst College, Bede Sixth Form College and Dudley College. They then beat Sheffield College in the semi-final and Dudley College in the final, in which they held Dudley to no made baskets for the entire game, only scoring from free throws.
Basketball Academy Captain Luca Basini-James said: "Winning our second National Championship is a testament to our team's unwavering dedication and belief in each other. We left it all on the court, bringing this title home again to CAVC is an incredible honour."
CAVC Head of Basketball Ieuan Alex Jones said: “I am incredibly proud of our team, winning a second consecutive AoC National Championship is a huge achievement. We performed brilliantly throughout the tournament and really displayed great teamwork on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court. Paddy Whitestone was awarded tournament most valuable player for his scoring output and leadership.”
Paddy Whitestone said: “Winning the AoC National Championship for a second consecutive year has felt surreal. The togetherness and integrity we have shown as a team was the reason we were able to succeed at this level again.”
The CAVC Basketball Academy is made up of students from across the College who are studying a range of vocational and academic courses. The Academy provides a supportive and specialist environment that combines first-class coaching and sports facilities with the College’s wide portfolio of courses. Players can progress in their sporting careers while studying at the College and prepare for a future outside of sport as well.
To find out more about the Basketball Academy visit: https://cavc.ac.uk/en/basketballacademy