"You are never going to get a one sided affair when the stakes are so high, and Portugal certainly reminded us frequently what we were all fighting for.

"The manner in which the players and staff have operated since the beginning is testimony to how seriously we take representing our country and it was incredibly pleasing to see everyone from GB staff back home, my staff team and the players rewarded for their efforts with this history-changing promotion."

GB will now meet Slovak Republic in the final on Sunday, after the Slovaks defeated neighbours Czech Republic 53-50 in the second semi-final.

Although the main objective has been achieved, and his team have become the first GB side to reach the top tier of European basketball, Jennings still wants to return home with some silverware.

"Like anyone obsessed with sport, or who coaches there is a final still to be won. That said the pressure is very much off us, and we are simply looking forward to a chance to compete for the coveted finale."

Like GB Slovakia finished second in their preliminary round group, losing to group winners Portugal, in their opening game, but beating Austria, Israel and Greece to go through to the last eight.

Hungary were beaten 49-46 in a tight quarter-final before 19 Veronika Cernáková points helped to victory against the Czechs in a game where they survived a late charge from their neighbours.

Klaudia Lukacovicová leads their scoring with 14.5 points per game, adding 2.7 blocks, with Cernáková pouring 13.7 points per game and Maria Felixova pulling down 10.2 rebounds to go with her eight points per game.