RUS – Davydova and Tichilova look to follow in footsteps of Russia U17 Women coach

TOULOUSE (2010 FIBA U17 World Championship for Women) – After finishing third Group A of the Preliminary Round, Russia expected a tough match-up with China in the quarter-finals of the FIBA U17 World Championship for Women.

And the Russians were proven right as they came up short, losing 68-59 against the mighty Chinese.

But Anna Arkhipova-von Kalmanovich’s girls have a bright future ahead of them and still have something to play for in this tournament, with the games to determine places 5-8.

FIBA.com caught up with Russian centre Mariya-Margarita Davydova and guard Anastasia Tochilova to talk about the tournament

FIBA: What do you think of the general level of this FIBA U17 World Championship?
Davydova: It’s a very good tournament and it's a pleasure to be here. The World Championship at this age level is a great idea and we are very proud to be here to represent our country.

FIBA: How do you feel after losing to China?
Davydova: It was a good game. We tried to win but we lost the rebounding battle and I think that was the main problem.

FIBA: Your coach, Anna Arkhipova-von Kalmanovich, had a great career as a professional player. Do you hope to follow in her footsteps?
Davydova: Yes we want to become professional players and hope to have the success she had. But I don't want to be a coach after that, because it's very hard. My coach doesn’t sleep much at night! I play with Spartak SHVSM and I hope that one day I can turn professional.
Tochilova: Yes, of course I would like to have success like our coach. Right now I'm playing at UMMK Ekaterinburg, so a professional career as a player and then as a coach…why not?

FIBA: How different is the weather here in Toulouse compared to Russia? Has it been a problem for you to adapt?
Davydova: In Moscow right now, the weather is kind of tropical, very hot about 40 degrees Celsius and there is no rain. Here it was raining on Thursday but it’s sunny again. It's a good weather.
Tochilova: It's a little too hot for me here, but it's fine.

FIBA: Are you more an offensive or defensive type of player?
Davydova: First you have to defend to have the ball and have some offense. So for me, I’m defensive first. I block shots.
Tochilova: I'm a defense player. I love going for interceptions and blocks.

FIBA: Can you say something in French?
Davydova (she laughs): Je m'appelle Mariya, Bonjour. Merci.
Tochilova: Je t'aime. Pardon. Excusez moi,
Davydova: She’s studying French in school but she forgot everything (laughs).

FIBA: Do you have nicknames?
Tochilova: Tochilka!
Davydova: Montana or M and M because my name is Mariya-Margarita !

FIBA: Which player is the most difficult to defend on?
Tochilova: I think Manami Fujioka of Japan.
Davydova: For me it’s Christelle Diallo of France.

FIBA: What kind of music do you like?
Davydova: I like RnB, pop music, Chris Brown. Right now we like Shakira's song Waka Waka (she begins to sing and do the choreography).
Tochilova: I like the French song "Allez Ola Olé" (from the Eurovision song contest).

FIBA: How would you describe your relation with your coach?
Davydova: She's very close to us.
Tochilova: Yes she's like a a second mum for us, because basketball is kind of second house for us.

FIBA / LOC