Armenia believe anything is possible after win over Slovak Republic
YEREVAN (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Pre-Qualifiers) - Some may have figured Armenia bit off more than they could chew several months ago when deciding to take part in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Pre-Qualifiers.
No one in Yerevan or anywhere else can be thinking that, now.
In their first official game, since winning the 2016 FIBA European Championship For Small Countries, a clash with the Slovak Republic on Wednesday night, Armenia showed, with a 75-61 triumph that they may just do something that few would have predicted. Maybe, just maybe, Armenia will clinch a spot in the FIBA Basketball World Cup European Qualifiers that tip off in November.
#FIBAWC 🏀
— HaySport (@HaySport01) August 2, 2017
🇦🇲 75-61 🇸🇰
📝| Armenia got the W thanks to team effort, but these 3 were the standouts today.
Have we got ourselves a #Big3? 🤤 pic.twitter.com/7MgGFwtgnK
"This is a great result for us," Armenia's Arkadiy Mkrtychyan said. "It was a hard game. We didn't start well but after the first quarter, we changed our game and did a good job. I hope we can also win the second game."
There are more games that have to be won for Armenia to reach the World Cup Qualifiers. They will take on Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden (both twice) and once more, the Slovakians.
If Armenia do achieve their aim, players, coaches and fans will remember three minutes of excellence from Mkrtychyan that turned the tide. A 21-year-old who plays for the Idaho Vandals in American college basketball, Mkrtychyan had a shooting spell that will have captured the imagination. He caught fire with his team trailing, 24-18, early in the second quarter.
We must work hard because we have five games left and must play better in those...I believe in my players.
Mkrtychyan poured in 12 points in that spell, with 6 coming from three-balls. When he'd finished, Armenia had a 30-27 advantage. The hosts then outscored the Slovakians, 16-3, over the last five minutes of the second quarter to take command for good.
Seven unanswered points at the beginning of the third quarter stretched the Armenia lead to 53-30. Slovak Republic chipped away but got no closer than 12 points the rest of the way.
There is no time to celebrate. Armenia will on Saturday host a Sweden team who opened their campaign with a thrilling come-from-behind win at home over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Joyous scenes in Yerevan where Armenia won their first Pre-Qualifier
"We're happy because we started the World Cup Pre-Qualifiers with a win," coach Niksa Bavcevic said. "But we must work hard because we have five games left and must play better in those."
Maybe the Armenians will win again, or maybe they will fall flat. No matter what happens, the national team has given the country something to be proud of. Armenia, right now, have every reason to believe they can go on to accomplish their goals.
"I believe that win can have a good result," Bavcevic said. "I believe in my players."
FIBA