Perfect Raptors are English Basketball champions

They were awarded the title after the final, traditionally held between first and second in the league, was cancelled due to Covid.

Peterborough, who held top spot after winning all their games in the league phase against Yorkshire Panthers, London Beard and Birmingham, were awarded the title after liaison between England Deaf Basketball and Basketball England.

Player coach Rai Epners said: “I feel proud because this is the first time Peterborough have won this title. We’ve only had a team for two years so I feel we have made our mark in the history books.

“I want to pay tribute to the players. They were perfect in all our games. We were disappointed the final was cancelled because we felt confident we could win. I want to thank Cambridgeshire Deaf Association and Sense for supporting the team.”

The Raptors were formed in 2018 by the Cambridgeshire Deaf Association with support from national deafblind charity Sense. They narrowly lost in the final in 2019.

Chief Executive of the Cambridgeshire Deaf Association, Andrew Palmer said: “The standard of basketball is high in the Raptors team.

“Many of the players have been playing all their lives and they love the game. It’s great for the area to have a successful deaf basketball team as well as deaf football and futsal teams that win national tournaments and also win in Europe.

“Congratulations to the team and I hope they enjoy the success.”