Current GB Women’s play-caller Jose Maria ‘Chema’ Buceta has been appointed  Head Coach of the England Women’s side for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia.

He’ll be assisted by WBBL duo, Vanessa Ellis and Chris Bunten who have previous experience of working with Buceta from the GB set up.

Ellis is a current Assistant Coach to the senior Women’s side, as well as the Head Coach of the U18 Women. With a playing pedigree that is up there with the very best, Ellis also has significant international experience as both a player and a coach alongside her domestic coaching experience within the WBBL for the Westfield Health Sheffield Hatters.

 

Coach Ellis said: “I am honoured and excited to coach the England team at the Commonwealth games. It is great to be able to coach a team at such a prestigious tournament, I’m really looking forward to working with the staff and players to try and bring home a medal.”

 

Rounding out the coaching team is Assistant Coach and Performance Analyst Chris Bunten. Working in a similar role for the GB U20 Women, also coached by Buceta, Bunten has significant experience at a variety of levels in the performance pathway over the last 8 years. Like Ellis, he is also a well-respected for his work in the WBBL as the Head Coach of Team Northumbria.

 

Bunten commented: “I couldn’t be prouder to represent my country at the Commonwealth Games as an Assistant Coach and Performance Analyst. I am honoured to get to work with a fantastic coaching staff that I have had the pleasure of working with previously during my time with British Basketball.

 

With the fantastic support of Basketball England, we will look to show how far basketball has come over recent years and we’ll look to replicate the success of 2006 Commonwealth Games where women’s basketball won a bronze medal.”

 

Vladan Dragosavac, Basketball England’s Talent Development and Performance Manager is pleased to see basketball coming together to support Team England. He said:  “The Commonwealth Games are an opportunity for our sport to confirm its potential and attract more people to enjoy basketball.

 

“Women’s programme is a great example of synergy between the home nations and British Basketball on behalf of the future of basketball in England and the UK. We are working together to create the best possible environment for our players and a successful women’s team.

“GB training camps will help Team England players to prepare for the competition in Australia where they will play against some of the best nations in the World.”

 

The next steps for Coach Buceta will be to meet with his coaching team and form a long list of potential players. A number of positions will also need to be filled to complete the team’s off court staff.

 

Buceta and his side will open their 2018 Commonwealth Games campaign as Team England against Canada on 6 April. They’ll follow that up with games against Mozambique on 8 April and Australia on 9 April. All games are played in Townsville.