What a weekend for as the club celebrated one of the greatest achievements in its history. Our U16 team were crowned National Champions, while our U18 squad finished as National Runners-Up after an incredible Final 4 campaign.
U16 Semi-Final: London Elite 94–84 Sussex Storm
Our U16s opened the weekend against in a game that proved far tougher than expected.
Despite recording two comfortable wins over Storm during the regular season, the semi-final was a completely different story. Sussex entered the game full of confidence after knocking out in the quarter-finals and showed tremendous spirit throughout.
Storm even held a four-point lead late in the third quarter, forcing our team to raise its level. A dominant fourth quarter eventually saw Elite pull away for a 94–84 victory and secure a place in the National Final.
Alex Nicholas led the way with a huge double-double of 24 points and 14 rebounds, while Pavel Obadowski added 19 points in a crucial performance.
U18 Semi-Final: London Elite 79–63 Solent Kestrels
Our U18s faced , a team we had beaten twice during the regular season. With two close games we knew our Semi final will be not an easy one. Both teams came out and traded baskets.
Coach Kelson boys remained focused on defensive end, while early transition points kept them in the game.
The game remained close throughout the first half before Elite took control in the third quarter and never looked back, eventually claiming a convincing 79–63 win over the Southampton side. Final ticket has been secured. Unbelievable journey continued.
Daniel Olusanya scored 21 points, while Ishmael Ahmed added 19 as the U18s booked their place in the national championship game.
U16 National Final: London Elite 82–80 Manchester Magic
The second day of Final 4 action began with a blockbuster U16 final against — the same team that had beaten us by one point away from home earlier in the season.
In front of nearly 800 loud supporters, the atmosphere was incredible and showcased the very best of U16 basketball in the UK.
Manchester came out firing from three-point range and, led by Theo Westwood, David Akhidime and Ege Cakmakkaya, took a 47–40 lead into halftime. The third quarter brought little change, with Magic still leading 58–51 entering the final period.
What followed was one of the most memorable quarters in London Elite history.
With both teams trading baskets and the entire crowd on the edge of their seats, the intensity reached another level. Then, with just three minutes remaining, Alex Nicholas suffered a game-ending injury — the ultimate test for our team’s resilience.
Omer Zardock, our floor general, kept his composure and brilliantly orchestrated the offence. Leo Bowman showed why he is considered one of the top U16 shooting guards in the country, producing crucial defensive stops before knocking down a massive three-pointer with just over a minute remaining.
Then came the defining moment.
With 15 seconds left, Pavel Obadowski hit the biggest shot of the game to give Elite an 82–77 lead. Manchester responded with a three of their own, forcing Coach Daniel Szatkowski to call a quick timeout. A late turnover gave Magic one final possession with two seconds remaining, but their last-second three-point attempt bounced off the rim.
The buzzer sounded. Pure joy erupted.
London Elite were crowned U16 National Champions.
Coach Daniel Szatkowski said:
“This is probably one of the best days since I opened Elite. Winning a title is one thing, but winning it by beating such a great team in that fashion is another. This game will become a reference point for the whole club going forward. Absolute cinema and unforgettable memories for everybody involved.”
Omer Zardock was named Final 4 MVP after a near triple-double performance, while Alex Nicholas earned a place in the All-Star 5. Special mention also goes to Ignacy Zakrzewski for his outstanding contribution in the final.
U18 National Final: London Elite Finish as National Runners-Up
Our U18s entered the final against local rivals after an unbelievable playoff run.
The team had already defeated , Western Conference champions , and Solent Kestrels on the road to the final — an achievement that placed them among the top 0.5% of teams in the country.
The final could not have started in a worse way, as top scorer Daniel Olusanya suffered a tailbone injury early in the game and was unable to continue.
Despite the setback, the team showed tremendous heart and character. Back-to-back three-pointers from Eli Zash, who finished 6-of-9 from beyond the arc, brought Elite within one point late in the second quarter.
However, the physical and emotional toll of a long season eventually caught up with the squad. After battling through injuries and a demanding schedule across Division 1, Tier 2 and U18 Premier competitions — totaling over 55 games — the boys continued to fight until the very end before eventually falling 75–58.
National runners-up. Second-best team in England.
An extraordinary achievement.
Coach Kelson said:
“An unbelievable achievement despite the frustration of losing the final. The boys became brothers and fought for each other every step of the way. I am beyond proud of their development and the way they represented London Elite throughout the season.”
Ammani Kasseyet was named to the Final 4 All-Star 5 following his excellent performances throughout the weekend.
