By Jenny Yettem
Armenia’s National Basketball Team and the French National Basketball team played two friendly games on Friday, June 16 and Saturday, June 17 at the California State University, Northridge (CSUN) Premier America Credit Union Arena.
The players arrived in Los Angeles on Monday, June 12 and Tuesday, June 13, and intensive, daylong practices with the whole team began immediately, as this roster had never played with one another prior to this week. It’s also a major milestone as these games mark the first time the Armenian National Basketball Team—winners of the 2016 and 2022 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries—played in the United States.
The roster for the two friendlies vs France National Team on June 16 at 17, comprised: Guard Ronald March, Jr.; guard Corey Silverstrom; forward Zach Tavitian; forward-center Ryan Kiachian; guard Connor Essegian; forward Evan Manjikian; forward Tigran Mkrtumyan; guard [player name removed]; guard Avand Dorian; guard Makani Whiteside; guard-forward Albert Tatevosyan; shooting guard Andre Spight; guard Gabriel Ajemyan; guard Anto Balian; and center Davit Khachatryan. Assisting head coach Rex Kalamian were Mikael Pogosyan and Vardan Khachatryan.
The team is being coached by Rex Kalamian, who is also the assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons. Kalamian previously had coaching terms with the Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Toronto Raptors.
Friday night, the arena saw a capacity crowd of 2,500 people—the first in the history of the gym. Emotions were running high in the stands and on the court, as fans enthusiastically cheered for the Armenian team who seemed to be struggling to get their bearings.
It was very much a David and Goliath game—the 87th-ranked and untested underdogs against a team that has won numerous EuroBasket; FIBA World Cup; and Summer Olympics medals including most recently the silver in 2021. But the Armenian team didn’t disappoint with the effort to defend against guys who physically outmatched them, and they made more quick attacks to avoid being blocked by the taller France players.
France took advantage of its size and stature, as well as the Armenian team’s burgeoning chemistry and ball control, and made a lot of driving plays that ended in slam dunks. Armenia nonetheless ably navigated the court with [player name removed] Albert Tatevosyan, Andre Mkrtchyan-Spight, Gabriel Ajemyan and Connor Essegian making a lot of fast breaks, and sinking three-pointers. Avand Dorian came in during the fourth quarter and immediately made a dagger shot, giving the capacity crowd renewed optimism that Armenia could close the gap.
But between Armenia’s nerves not under control and France’s century-long playbook, the game ended 74 – 107—France running away with a 33-point lead that Armenia couldn’t overcome.
After Friday’s game, Dorian told The California Courier that he had been nervous before the game, but nonetheless kept his cool when Coach Kalamian put him in. Eighteen-year-old Dorian, who is headed to USC after recently graduating from AGBU Manoogian-Demirjian High School, said he was “ecstatic” making the shot within seconds of being subbed in. Dorian acknowledged the challenges Armenia faced in the game: “We only had four days of prep and we knew the France team was taller, bigger and more experienced—but we still had confidence going in. And we are optimistic about doing better, or even winning, on Saturday.”
It was a sentiment echoed throughout the stands and on the bench. Former NBA player and coach Derek Fisher joined Kalamian on Friday night in a show of support for the Armenian team. Fisher, who played for the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2012 when Kalamian was the assistant coach, told The Courier that Armenia would improve with time and chemistry—as well as national pride. According to media director Richard Elmoyan, himself a former national basketball team member and assistant coach, told The Courier that Fisher delivered a 20-minute pep talk after the game and encouraged the team to think about “the front of their jerseys and how they represent Armenia” to crystallize their confidence and chemistry.
Elmoyan also said that despite what might look like a lopsided match-up, it’s important that Armenia plays teams that are better in ranking and skills because it challenges the team to improve. Elmoyan, too, was confident that the Saturday game would unfold far better than Friday’s debut. He said the unwavering support of the capacity crowd had a deep impact on the team.
Coach Rex Kalamian told The Courier “what defines us is the people who came out to cheer us on—the packed gym and fans. Moving forward it’s about giving Armenians and the diaspora a sense of being among the best in the world.” Kalamian and Elmoyan both acknowledged that France was much more experienced—having had over a century of national basketball—and also outsized Armenia. But they were both certain that Armenia could effectively counter with their guard play, pace of play, and shooting three-pointers.
Connor Essegian told The Courier he and the team had practiced nonstop since their staggered arrivals, and they learned from Friday’s game about how to play as a cohesive team against a formidable opponent. Essegian said they were looking forward to applying their insights to the second game.
On Saturday, an even greater level of enthusiasm filled the arena with fans cheering and using noisemakers to bolster the Armenian team.
And between their settled nerves and increased chemistry, the Armenian team made significantly more decisive plays and defended much more effectively. Their court-spreading three-point strategy worked, as they held the France defense at bay. France took note of the challenge—they made far less drives to the basket, drew more fouls, and fumbled a number of passes.
The game was even-keeled and Armenia played hard, trailing just by a small margin throughout—40-55 at the half, and 59-73 at the end of the third quarter. The game ended 83-98. International games are 40 minutes long, with 10-minute quarters. Quite a few people said that if this were on NBA time with a 48-minute game of 12-minute quarters, Armenia’s momentum would have catapulted them to victory.
Les Bleus shooting guard Juhann Begarin told The Courier that Armenia is “a good team. We didn’t know what to expect with a new team—we just played our best. It was challenging and fun. Hopefully Armenia will enter the European league.”
Elmoyan was elated after the game, having rightly predicted his team would silence any naysayers. He said the level of enthusiasm from the community was unparalleled, and that he hopes other Diaspora strongholds like Argentina and Canada will receive the team with the same welcome. With the way the Armenian team upped their game literally overnight, Elmoyan said he is confident about their upcoming international tournaments scheduled for November of this year and February 2024.
