Ynys Môn will be making a welcome return to the men’s basketball tournament at this year’s Island Games in Guernsey. Now, whilst the squad gears up for their return to action after 16 years away, the team will now know who they face in the group stage.
Nine teams make up two groups, with our Welsh island featuring in Group B with three other teams. We’ve managed to avoid the hosts and defending champions Cayman Islands, but will stay have to face regular medalists Saaremaa.
Sixteen years on from our last Island Games basketball action, it almost seems pointless commenting on our previous matches against our opponents but here we go anyway…
Saaremaa
Saaremaa, the Estonian island, have featured in every tournament since it become an Island Games sport in 1999. They’ve never finished lower than 5th and have medalled at the last three Games, winning it 2015. We’ve finished them three times and are yet to record a win, being on the end of heavy defeats each time.
| Ynys Môn | L | W | Saaremaa | 2001 | Group |
| Ynys Môn | 47 | 84 | Saaremaa | 2003 | Group |
| Ynys Môn | 73 | 96 | Saaremaa | 2007 | Group |
Isle of Wight
The English county have entered intermittently since the beginning and yet to medal. They’ve finished in the lower end of the rankings at each tournament and could be great opportunity for Ynys Môn to pick up a crucial win. We’ve only met once, but it was a convincing win for us back in 2003.
| Ynys Môn | 75 | 49 | Isle of Wight | 2003 | Group |
Faroe Islands
Surprisingly for an island of Faroe Islands size, and how well they do at football in UEFA competitions, their basketball exploits have not been successful. They’ve entered the past three tournaments but finished last in the first two of those tournaments and then 10th out of 11 at the last Games in Gibraltar. Due to them only entering recently, Ynys Môn and Faroe Islands have never met in the basketball.
Ynys Môn Squad and Chances
The squad will be published on this website shortly with many of the squad believed to be chosen from the island’s Ynys Môn Celts Basketball Team. They have existed for just over 30 years and growing thanks to the men’s teams being a part of the recently created Basketball Wales National League. Let’s hope this helps gives us the boost we need as we aim for a semi-final berth.