The 10-day international tour proved to be much more than a basketball trip. It became a celebration of teamwork, friendship and the transformative power of sport.

Smiley, who worked alongside the international basketball organization, EuroBasket, guided the SUNYAC squad to a perfect 4-0 record against professional Portuguese competition. Along the way, the team experienced some of Portugal’s most iconic destinations while representing New York collegiate basketball on an international stage.

“Opportunities like this are about much more than wins and losses,” Smiley said. “This was a chance for our players to experience another culture, build lifelong memories, and finish their basketball journeys together in a truly unique way.”

The team’s on-court performance matched the significance of the experience.

Smiley’s team’s most dominant victory came on May 30 against Braga GDAS, where the Americans controlled the game from start to finish. Kendall Arcuri of Cortland led the charge with 23 points, 11 rebounds and five assists, while Lence Altenor of St. Joseph’s added 22 points and connected on five 3-pointers. Fitchburg’s Duvall Price posted a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds as Smiley’s squad showcased the depth and chemistry that defined the trip.

The following day, the team completed its undefeated tour with a hard-fought victory over Galitos, closing out the international experience with a perfect 4-0 mark. Altenor scored 22 points, while Arcuri delivered perhaps the most complete performance of the tour, finishing with 20 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and five steals.

Throughout the week, Smiley’s team’s balanced attack proved difficult for opponents to contain. Four players averaged double figures in scoring, led by Price’s 17.5 points per game and Arcuri’s remarkable all-around production of 18.3 points, 11 rebounds and nearly five assists per contest.

Altenor and Fredonia State’s Martin Garza combined for 27 3-pointers during the tour, stretching defenses and providing timely perimeter scoring. Meanwhile, Gaige Armbrewster (Cortland), MeSean Johnson (Potsdam) and JP Miranda (Vassar) supplied critical playmaking, defensive pressure, and leadership that helped fuel the undefeated run.

While the statistics were impressive, Smiley believes the lasting impact of the trip will be found away from the basketball court.

Players toured breath-taking historic cities, experienced Portuguese culture firsthand, and spent valuable time together in an environment far removed from the pressures of a typical season. For many of the seniors, it marked one final opportunity to share the game they love with teammates who had become family.

“The relationships built through basketball are what last the longest,” Smiley said. “To be able to travel overseas, compete, and experience a different part of the world together is something these players will carry with them forever.”

The tour also reflected Smiley’s coaching philosophy, one centered on personal growth, leadership, relationships and creating meaningful experiences beyond the game itself. As the players explored Portugal’s rich history and culture, they represented their schools and communities while serving as ambassadors for collegiate athletics.

By the end of the trip, the record book showed four wins and zero losses. But for Smiley and his players, the greatest victory was the opportunity itself.

An undefeated international tour, lifelong memories, and one final adventure together — a fitting ending for a special group of seniors and the coach who helped guide them there.