‘It’s like I’m in a dream’ – GB’s wheelchair basketballers on semi-final winpublished at 17:44 British Summer Time
Men’s wheelchair basketball semi-final – GB 71-43 Germany
Earlier on, ParalympicsGB’s men’s wheelchair basketball team beat Germany 71-43 to reach the gold medal match.
They will
play their first final since 1996 on Saturday against
either the United States or Canada.
Here’s what some of the British team had to say.
Phil Pratt: “Winning a semi-final of the Paralympics against
a world-class team like Germany is unbelievable. At times like that, I’m
looking at the scoreboard thinking, ‘is this actually happening?’ It was
unreal. I’m so proud of our guys.”
ParalympicsGB flagbearer Terry Bywater said: “I’ve been there six times before. This is
something I’ve dreamt of since Sydney. I got emotional after the final whistle
– this is why I play basketball. I’m in the Paralympic final. It’s
unbelievable.
“The quarter and semi-final are the worst you
can play in. Twenty-four years in the making this has been. When we were 20 up
and there was six minutes to go, you’ve got one leg in the final, the emotions
started really early. I’ve never made it this far before. It’s like I’m in a
dream now.”