2024-04-28 09:18:36
The national basketball team of Armenia has started training under the leadership of famous American-Armenian specialist Rex Kalamyan. Our team K. in the sports concert complex named after Demirchyan
is preparing for the SADA CUP international tournament to be held in Yerevan on June 23-26, as well as the European Championship of Small Countries, which will be held from June 28 to July 3 in Malta.
Led by Rex Kalamyan, the team held its second training session today with high spirits and great enthusiasm. Andre Speight Mkrtchyan, who will arrive in Armenia tonight, and Chris Jones, who will join the team after the final series of the French championship title, are not participating in the national team’s training yet.
American “Detroit Pistons” assistant coach Rex Kalamian, who has been working in the NBA for almost 30 years, says that he is impressed by what he saw in Armenia.
“I am very satisfied with what I saw here. Conditions are very good. I have been in contact with the team’s basketball players for 2-3 months. The boys are in good shape. Of course, there is still much work to be done. The most important thing for now is to form a united team and improve teamwork. We need to become a team very quickly, and not 12 individual athletes.”
According to the coach, his goal is to contribute to the development of Armenian basketball. “I think we have a good foundation. I really liked Armenian basketball players, their qualities and skills. We must do everything to develop Armenian basketball. The question is not one specific tournament or training. the priority is the future of Armenian basketball.”
Kalamyan says that it is a great honor for him to return to his historical homeland and lead the Armenian national team. “Having the opportunity to work in my homeland is a great honor and advantage for me. Very excited. The last time I was in Armenia was 21 years ago. A lot has changed. I love Armenia very much. the earth has great energy. My family is very excited too. I know that my grandmother, if she were alive, would be very happy to know that I lead the Armenian national team.”
Ara Poghosyan, president of the VBET A-League of basketball, vice president of the republican sports federation, also commented on the team’s training and preparatory phase.
“Our boys, especially the players in Armenian clubs, are having such high-level training for the first time. They trained for 3 hours yesterday. There are boys who have not yet reached the level of being competitive in the national team, but that is the purpose of such trainings,” said Ara Poghosyan and talked about the expectations of the European Championship of small countries.
“We have a very good coaching staff and a great team. We will meet quite strong opponents, but we are not afraid of anyone. I have very high hopes that we will be able to win that championship.”
Earlier, Rex Kalamian published the list of players who should prepare for the SADA CUP international tournament to be held in Yerevan on June 23-26 and the European Championship of Small Countries to be held in Malta.
Expanded composition of the Armenian national team.
Պաշտպաններ՝
Andre Speight-Mkrtchyan (“Hollywood Hrazdan”, USA), Artyom Bichakhchyan (BKMA), Mkhitar Vardanyan (“Urartu”), Davit Karamyan (“New Bayazet”), Gabriel Achemyan (“Pasadena City”, USA), Matthew Madoyan ( without a club), Alex Stepanyan (BKMA), Chris Jones (ASVEL Lyon, France),
Հարձակվողներ՝
Haykaz Grigoryan (“Gyumri”), Albert Tadevosyan (“Vahagni City”),
Giorgi Podkolzin (“Urartu”), Andre Zohrabyan (“Los Angeles Arms”, USA),
Կենտրոնականներ՝
Zach Tavityan (“Centro Basket”, Spain), Arkady Mkrtchyan (“Urartu”), Davit Khachatryan (“Med Foxys”).
It should be noted that the national basketball team of Armenia has appeared in the B subgroup of the European Championship of Small Countries, where it will meet with the teams of San Marino and Gibraltar. The championship will be held from June 28 to July 3 in Ta-Kali, Malta.