Albania national basketball team

Albania
FIBA ranking 100 Decrease 8 (18 September 2018)
Joined FIBA 1947
FIBA zone FIBA Europe
National federation FSHB
Coach Antonios Doukas
Nickname(s) Kuq e Zinjtë (The Red and Blacks)
Shqiponjat (The Eagles)
Olympic Games
Appearances None
FIBA World Cup
Appearances None
EuroBasket
Appearances 2 (1947, 1957)
Medals None
Uniforms
Light
Dark
First international
 Italy 60–15 Albania Albania
(Prague, Czechoslovakia; 27 April 1947)
Biggest win
Albania Albania 112–77 Iceland 
(Wolfenbüttel, FR Germany; 1975)
Biggest defeat
 Belgium 114–11 Albania Albania
(Prague, Czechoslovakia; 28 April 1947)

The Albanian national basketball team (Albanian: Federata Shqiptare e Basketbollit) is the national basketball team of Albania and it has represented the nation since 1947.[1] Having not played a competitive game since 2012, the national team returned to action in 2016 for the EuroBasket 2017 qualification.

History

Basketball was introduced in Albania in the early 20th century, and it became popular in the 1920s following the end of World War I as sports societies and clubs were being formed all over the country, and basketball was soon introduced to the major towns and cities in Albania. Basketball was played informally by teams representing different sports clubs, and it wasn't until September 1945 that a National Basketball Committee was formed that would be responsible for dealing with the issues basketball teams in the country faced. The committee paved the way for the creation of the Albanian Basketball Association (ABA) a year later in 1946, which became a member of FIBA in 1947, and whose main goals were to enable clubs to compete in national competitions, as well a promote the sport. The first National Championship in Albania was held in 1946, and a year later the first Women's National Championship also took place. In 1951 the ABA created the Republic's Cup, which was a competition open to all professional and amateur basketball clubs in Albania, with the women's and youth versions of the competition both starting in 1952. During the Communist regime in Albania, the National Spartakiad was held between 1959 and 1989, where basketball was one of the more popular sports in display in the country's biggest sports events. In 1999 the ABA held the first Albanian Basketball Supercups for men and women, which is played between the winners of the league and cup.

EuroBasket 1947

Albania first competed in a European championship at EuroBasket 1947 held in Prague, Czechoslovakia, shortly after joining FIBA as an affiliate national team. In the preliminary round of the competition Albania was placed in Group D with Italy, Belgium and Egypt, and their first game in a major tournament came against Italy in a 15–60 loss, and they went on to lose 11–114 and 19–104 to Belgium and Egypt, respectively. In the next round, they were placed in the lower bracket Group 3 to determine who finishes between the 7th and 10th places, where they faced Romania and Austria. Albania lost 19–73 to Romania and 27–44 to Austria. They then went on to face Yugoslavia in the final game to determine who finishes in penultimate place, where they lost 13–90 to Yugoslavia and finished in last place out of 14 teams, with a record of 0 wins and 6 losses. Albania averaged just 17.3 points per game, with their highest point tally coming against Austria where they scored 27 points, and lost by their smallest margin of 17 points. They conceded an average of 80.3 points per game, with their highest scoring opponents being Belgium who defeated Albania 114–11.

EuroBasket 1957

10 years after their debut tournament performance, Albania competed at EuroBasket 1957 in Sofia, Bulgaria, where they were placed in Group A in the preliminary round with Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Scotland. They lost 57–89 to Yugoslavia in their opening game, and then went on to lose 37–71 and 42–65 to Czechoslovakia and Scotland, respectively, to finish bottom of the group. During the classification round, Albania faced Turkey, Italy, Finland, Belgium, West Germany, Austria and Scotland. Albania lost all 7 games in the classification round which led to them finishing bottom of another EuroBasket tournament, this time out of 16 team. Albania averaged 47.6 points per game, with their highest points tally coming against Turkey in a 64–97 loss, which was also the highest scoring game for their opponents, and conceded an average of 78.4 points per game during the tournament. Despite better performances than those in 1947, they could not manage to escape finish bottom once again.

Competitive record

Recent results and upcoming fixtures

Friendlies

19 August 2016
15:00
Cyprus  94–51  Albania
Scoring by quarter: 25–7, 25–14, 23–9, 21–21
Pts: Sizopoulos 17 Pts: Shima 13
20 August 2016
17:30
Estonia  71–64  Albania
Scoring by quarter: 23–8, 18–16, 15–22, 15–18
Pts: Kurbas 13 Pts: Shima 14
21 August 2016
17:30
Albania  71–70  Qatar
Scoring by quarter: 12–20, 10–14, 35–24, 14–12
Pts: Dusha 21 Pts: Erfan 21
24 August 2016
14:30
Albania  45–110  Israel
Scoring by quarter: 7–31, 14–21, 10–25, 14–33
Pts: Hysenagolli 16 Pts: Koulechov 22
25 August 2016
14:30
Ukraine  71–65  Albania
Scoring by quarter: 24–16, 16–9, 18–17, 13–23
Pts: Pustovyi 13 Pts: Dusha & Shima 12
27 August 2016
17:00
Estonia  102–49  Albania
Scoring by quarter: 39–12, 19–9, 19–15, 25–13
Pts: Hallik 34 Pts: Hysenagolli 10

EuroBasket 2017 qualification

Group F

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1  Montenegro 6 5 1 563 420 +143 11 EuroBasket 2017
2  Georgia 6 5 1 524 402 +122 11 Possible qualification
3  Albania 6 1 5 392 518 −126 7
4  Slovakia 6 1 5 372 511 −139 7
Updated to match(es) played on 7 September 2016. Source: FIBA
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head results; 3) Points difference; 4) Points scored.
31 August 2016
19:00
Georgia  86–47  Albania
Scoring by quarter: 21–9, 24–10, 23–13, 18–15
Pts: Sanikidze 20
Rebs: Pachulia 8
Asts: Tsintsadze 9		 Pts: Hysenagolli 15
Rebs: Shima 7
Asts: three players 2
Sports Palace, Tbilisi
Attendance: 8,000
Referees: Christof Madinger (GER), Antonis Demetriou (CYP), Volodymyr Pediev (UKR)
3 September 2016
19:00
Albania  73–113  Montenegro
Scoring by quarter: 15–33, 17–40, 18–21, 23–19
Pts: Broadus 26
Rebs: Hysenagolli 6
Asts: Broadus 4		 Pts: Vučević 19
Rebs: Todorović 8
Asts: Needham 6
Asllan Rusi Sports Palace, Tirana
Attendance: 1,200
Referees: Petros Papapetrou (GRE), Alessandro Martolini (ITA), Semen Ovinov (RUS)
7 September 2016
18:00
Slovakia  69–60  Albania
Scoring by quarter: 14–11, 20–20, 25–17, 10–12
Pts: Korner 20
Rebs: Korner 10
Asts: Baldovský, Milošević 3		 Pts: Broadus 23
Rebs: Shima 9
Asts: Shima 3
Mestská sportová hala, Prievidza
Attendance: 800
Referees: Anthonie Sinterniklaas (NED), Mykola Ambrosov (UKR), Josip Radojković (CRO)
10 September 2016
19:00
Albania  64–84  Georgia
Scoring by quarter: 19–20 \, 17–16, 15 - 20, 13–28
14 September 2016
21:00
Montenegro  94–56  Albania
Scoring by quarter: 26–16, 20–11, 24–18, 24–11
17 September 2016
19:00
Albania  72–65  Slovakia
Scoring by quarter: 20–17, 10–14, 19–18, 14–16

Roster

The following players are in the final squad for FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Pre-Qualifiers

Albania men's national basketball team - 2017 European Pre-Qualifiers roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameAge – Date of birthHeightClubCtr.
PG 4 Strazimiri, Klein 19 – (1998-04-22)22 April 1998 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) KB Tirana Albania
SG 7 Kovaci, Beq 24 – (1993-06-09)9 June 1993 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) KB Vëllaznimi Kosovo
PG 9 Berdica, Ervin 32 – (1985-03-28)28 March 1985 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) BC Vllaznia Albania
PG 10 Vaqarri, Majk 23 – (1994-02-11)11 February 1994 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) Kamza Basket Albania
PF 12 Gjyzeli, Abdel 24 – (1993-02-24)24 February 1993 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) KB Tirana Albania
C 14 Hysenagolli, Endrit 29 – (1988-07-05)5 July 1988 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in) KB Tirana Albania
PF 15 Shima, Gerti 31 – (1986-05-09)9 May 1986 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) KB Tirana Albania
SG 19 Muca, Orlando 21 – (1995-11-19)19 November 1995 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) Proteas Voulas Greece
PG 35 Dusha, Elvisi 23 – (1994-07-15)15 July 1994 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Plymouth Raiders United Kingdom
PF 43 Moser, Michael 26 – (1990-11-08)8 November 1990 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Pallacanestro Reggiana Italy
SG 70 Bushati, Franko 32 – (1985-07-05)5 July 1985 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) Germani Basket Brescia Italy
C 93 Haruni, Kledio 23 – (1993-09-20)20 September 1993 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) Esperos Lamias Greece
Head coach
  • Greece Antonios Doukas
Assistant coach
Legend
  • Club – describes last
    club before the tournament
  • Age – describes age
    as of 2 August 2017

Head coaches

Coach Years active
Albania Rexhep Rama 1946
Albania Naim Pilku 1947–1959
Albania Feti Borova 1960
Albania Naim Pilku 1963
Albania Feti Borova 1963–1965
Albania Astrit Greva 1969
Albania Feti Borova 1971–1974
Albania Bujar Shehu 1975
Albania Feti Borova 1976–1977
Albania Bujar Shehu 1978
Albania Feti Borova 1984–1985
Albania Astrit Greva 1985–1991
Albania Bujar Shehu 1992–1997
Albania Arben Fagu[2] 1998–2001
Albania Bujar Shehu 2002
Albania Roland Avrami 2002–2004
Albania Korab Llazani[3] 2005–2006
Albania Arben Fagu 2006
Albania Roland Avrami 2006–2009
New Zealand Mark Dickel[4] 2010–2011
Albania Fatmir Cuka[5] 2011–2012
Albania Roland Avrami[6] 2012–2013
Cyprus Antonis Constantinides[7] 2015–2017
Greece Antonios Doukas 2017–

Record by opponents

Official games

As of 4 September 2016

Unofficial games

As of 1986

Placements

Men competitions

European Promotion Cup

  • 2002: European Promotion Cup – 6th place
  • 2004: European Promotion Cup – 5th place
  • 2006: European Promotion Cup – 2nd place

European Championship

  • 1947: European Championship – 14th place
  • 1957: European Championship – 16th place
  • 1995: European Championship – Qualifying Round
  • 1997: European Championship – Qualifying Round
  • 1999: European Championship – Preliminary Round
  • 2005: Eurobasket – Division B
  • 2007: Eurobasket – Division B
  • 2009: Eurobasket – Division B

European Olympic Qualifying Tournament

  • 1972: European Olympic Qualifying Tournament – Preliminary Round
  • 1992: European Olympic Qualifying Tournament – Preliminary Round

Women competitions

European Promotion Cup

  • 1996: European Promotion Cup – 2nd place
  • 2002: European Promotion Cup – 1st place

European Championship

  • 1997: European Championship – Qualifying Round

Youth competitions

  • 1999: European Promotion Cup for Junior Men – 7th place
  • 2001: European Promotion Cup for Junior Men – 4th place
  • 2003: European Promotion Cup for Junior Men – 1st place
  • 2005: U18 European Promotion Cup Women – 3rd place

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Albania defeated Algeria at the GANEFO games in 1963, but the score is unknown so recorded as a 2–0 victory for Albania.
  2. ↑ Albania forfeited a game against Bulgaria at the 1960 Balkan Championship in Sofia, so recorded as 2–0 victory for Bulgaria.
  3. ↑ Albania withdrew from playing Israel for political reasons at the XVIII Universiade, the World University Games in Turin, so recorded as a 2–0 victory for Israel.
  4. ↑ Albania's senior national team defeated the youth national team 76–48 at the VII Balkan Championship in Tiranë in 1965.
  5. ↑ Albania defeated a squad representing Beijing 73–65 during a tour of China in 1972.
  6. ↑ Albania lost 64–49 to Bulgaria's youth national team at the 1960 Balkan Championship in Sofia.
  7. ↑ Albania defeated China's youth national team 77–64 during a tour of China in 1977.
  8. ↑ Albania defeated a squad representing the North Korean Interior Ministry called Security Forces 102–92 during a tour of North Korea in 1977.
  9. ↑ Albania defeated a squad representing Jiangsu during a tour of China in 1972, but the score is unknown so recorded as a 2–0 victory for Albania.
  10. ↑ Albania lost to a squad representing Jiangsu 73–63 during a tour of China in 1974.
  11. ↑ Albania lost to a squad representing the Chinese Army of Jilin, Liaoning and Heilongjiang 78–49 during a tour of China in 1977.
  12. ↑ Albania defeated a youth squad representing Jilin 121–69 during a tour of China in 1977.
  13. ↑ Albania defeated a squad representing Jinan during a tour of China in 1972, but the score is unknown so recorded as a 2–0 victory for Albania.
  14. ↑ Albania defeated a squad representing Liaoning 76–69 during a tour of China in 1974.
  15. ↑ Albania defeated a squad representing Nei Mongol during a tour of China in 1972, but the score is unknown so recorded as a 2–0 victory for Albania.
  16. ↑ Albania lost 81–58 to New Balance All-Stars, a selection of US-based players touring Italy, on 12 June 2009 during the Torneo di Porto San Giorgio.
  17. ↑ Albania lost to a squad representing the Pyongyang 90–89 during a tour of North Korea in 1977.
  18. ↑ Albania lost 71–31 to Romania's youth national team at the 1959 Balkan Championship in Bucharest.
  19. ↑ Albania lost 77–53 to a squad representing Romania's universities at the Cup of Friendship youth tournament held in Bucharest in 1960.
  20. ↑ Albania played Selezione Universitaria LNP, a selection of university players of the Lega Nazionale Pallacanestro in Italy, on 11 June 2009 for the Torneo di Porto San Giorgio.
  21. ↑ Albania defeated a squad representing Shanghai 75–65 during a tour of China in 1972.
  22. ↑ Albania lost to a squad representing Shanghai 71–69 during a tour of China in 1974.
  23. ↑ Albania defeated a squad representing Shanxi 84–64 during a tour of China in 1972.
  24. ↑ Albania defeated a squad representing Shenyang 107–75 during a tour of China in 1977.
  25. ↑ Albania defeated a youth squad representing Shenyang 133–83 during a tour of China in 1977.
  26. ↑ Albania defeated a squad representing Tianjin 67–59 during a tour of China in 1972.
  27. ↑ Albania defeated a squad representing the Chinese Army called 1st August 71–69 during a tour of China in 1974.
  28. ↑ Albania lost to a squad representing the Chinese Army called 1st August 84–77 during a tour of China in 1977.
  29. ↑ Albania defeated a squad representing the North Korean Army called 8th February 95–86 during a tour of North Korea in 1977.

References

  1. ↑ Albanian Federation of Basketball
  2. ↑ Arben Fagu: Basketbolli ynë për t’u vajtuar, s’ka e s’mund të kemi më një Agim Fagu
  3. ↑ Korab Llazani: Basketbolli ynë me probleme të trashëguara, Kosova nivel tjetër
  4. ↑ "Dickel hopes for return to Rams' glory days". Archived from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  5. ↑ Basketboll, rikthehet Fatmir Cuka
  6. ↑ Roland Avrami: Shqiperia eshte rritur jo vetem ne centimentra
  7. ↑ Qiprioti Constantinides, trajneri i ri i kombëtares
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