History was made this past May as the Bromley Phoenix Men’s team embarked on their very first international tour. From the 15th- 17th May 2026, the squad traveled to the beautiful capital city of Sofia, Bulgaria, for an unforgettable weekend of high-level competition, team bonding and cultural exploration. The logistics of the trip was organised by Co-founder Andy Roser, while the game schedule was meticulously put together by Phoenix Men’s player Dimitar Kovachev.
The tour kicked off on Friday with the team hitting the court early to get ready for the big games ahead. The players enjoyed a unique practice session at an incredible outdoor school facility, trading their usual indoor halls for a scenic run-through framed by breathtaking Balkan mountain views. This session allowed the guys to shake off their travel legs, adapt to the new environment and lock in their focus for the weekend.
On Saturday, the competitive action officially began. For their first game, Bromley Phoenix faced off against a disciplined and sharpshooting Robots squad, hosted by Sofia’s prestigious National Amateur Basketball League (NALB.bg). Coming into their first international fixture, the Phoenix men showed some early nerves and just could not get their rhythm going, allowing the Robots to take an early, commanding advantage. During the second half, the team found their legs and started building some great momentum. However, by then it was too late to halt the onslaught and the incredible three-point shooting of the Robots, resulting in a 59-91 defeat. It was an invaluable learning experience that set the tone for what top-tier continental basketball requires.
Sunday morning provided a welcome opportunity for the squad to explore the historic streets of Sofia. Before heading to their final game, the team immersed themselves in the local culture and visited some of the city’s spectacular cathedrals, including Sofia’s most famous landmark, the breathtaking St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
By the time Sunday afternoon arrived for their second game against the LA Bakers, the Phoenix men were completely ready. Instantly playing their best basketball and firing on all cylinders from the opening tip, Phoenix took control, establishing and maintaining a steady lead throughout the majority of the game. The intensity peaked in the fourth period when the LA Bakers aggressively upped their tempo to claw their way back into the match just as Phoenix began to run out of steam. While the LA Bakers narrowly edged out a 75-68 win in the final minutes, it was a completely different story compared to the day before—a highly contested, thrilling battle that showed the true grit, growth, and adaptability of the Phoenix roster over 24 hours.
Reflecting on the monumental weekend, Co-founder Andy Roser shared his pride in the team’s achievement: “Organising our first international men’s tour was a massive milestone for the Senior programme, but seeing the players represent Bromley Phoenix with such determination and growth over the weekend made every bit of planning worth it. This experience has brought the squad closer together and showed us what we are capable of achieving.”
The entire historic milestone was captured on camera thanks to Lime Visuals, who put together 3 incredible videos documenting the trip. You can watch the full journey and full game tapes via the official YouTube Playlist: Watch the Full Bromley Phoenix Sofia Tour 2026 Playlist Here. The five-video series tracks everything across the weekend, including the team’s arrival, the scenic mountain practice session, the complete game tapes against both the Robots and LA Bakers.
An international venture of this scale would not have been possible without an immense amount of effort behind the scenes. Bromley Phoenix extends a massive thank you to Dimitar Kovachev for his incredible work organising the fixtures, and to the entire NALB.bg league for being such world-class, welcoming hosts over the course of the weekend. This tour marks a massive milestone for the Men’s programme, setting an exciting new benchmark for what the club can achieve as it continues to grow and inspire the future.
