Albania national basketball team

Albania Albania
Joined FIBA 1947
FIBA zone FIBA Europe
National federation FSHB
Coach Antonis Constantinides
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

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 will return to action in 2016 for 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 who's 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.

Tournament history

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.

Preliminary round
 Italy 60 – 15  Albania
 Belgium 114 – 11  Albania
 Albania 19 – 104  Egypt
Semifinal round
 Albania 19 – 73  Romania
 Albania 27 – 44  Austria
Final round
 Yugoslavia 90 – 13  Albania

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.

Preliminary round
 Albania 57 – 89  Yugoslavia
 Czechoslovakia 71 – 37  Albania
 Scotland 65 – 42  Albania
Classification round
 Scotland 69 – 56  Albania
 West Germany 72 – 43  Albania
 Finland 91 – 42  Albania
 Albania 42 – 82  Italy
 Albania 64 – 97  Turkey
 Albania 45 – 58  Austria
 Belgium 90 – 48  Albania

Competitive record

EuroBasket

FIBA EuroBasket Qualification
Year Position Pld W L Pld W L
1935 to 1946 Did not qualify
Czechoslovakia 1947 14th 6 0 6
1949 to 1955 Did not qualify
Bulgaria 1957 16th 10 0 10
1963 to 1967 Did not enter Did not enter
Italy 1969 Did not qualify 404
West Germany 1971 Did not qualify 413
Spain 1973 Did not enter Did not enter
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 1975 Did not qualify 532
1977 to 1989 Did not enter Did not enter
Italy 1991 Did not qualify 413
Germany 1993 Did not enter Did not enter
Greece 1995 Did not qualify 615
Spain 1997 Did not qualify 514
France 1999 Did not qualify 514
Turkey 2001 Did not enter Did not enter
Sweden 2003 Did not enter Did not enter
Serbia and Montenegro 2005 Division B 606
Spain 2007 Division B 808
Poland 2009 Division B 826
Lithuania 2011 Division B 808
Slovenia 2013 Did not qualify 808
Croatia France Germany Latvia 2015 Did not enter Did not enter
Finland Israel Romania Turkey 2017 Did not qualify 615
Total 16 0 16

Olympic Qualifying Tournament

Olympic Qualifying Tournament
Year Position Pld W L
1960 to 1976 Did not participate
Spain 1992 24th/25 6 0 6
2008 to 2016 Did not participate
Total 16 0 16

Promotion Cup

Promotion Cup
Year Position Pld W L
1988 to 2000 Did not participate
Malta 2002 6th/8 5 3 2
Andorra 2004 5th/9 5 3 2
Albania 2006 Runners-up 5 4 1
2008 to 2016 Did not participate
Total 15 10 5

Mediterranean Games

Mediterranean Games
Year Position Pld W L
1951 to 1987 Did not participate
Greece 1991 8th/8 5 0 5
1993 to 2005 Did not participate
Italy 2009 6th/8 6 1 5
2013 to 2017 Did not participate
Total 11 1 10

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 3 3 0 286 212 +74 6 EuroBasket 2017
2  Georgia 3 2 1 254 186 +68 5 Possible qualification
3  Slovakia 3 1 2 197 251 −54 4
4  Albania 3 0 3 180 268 −88 3
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
Albania  vs.  Georgia
14 September 2016
Montenegro  vs.  Albania
17 September 2016
Albania  vs.  Slovakia

Roster

The following players are in the final squad for Euro Basket 2017.

Albania National Basketball Team roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Age – Date of birth Ht. Club Ctr.
SG 5 Vogli, Redi 29 – (1987-01-01)1 January 1987 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) PBC Tirana Albania
SF 6 Taflaj, Çelis 18 – (1998-03-12)12 March 1998 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) Viola Reggio Calabria Italy
SF 7 Gjonaj, Algert 28 – (1987-10-18)18 October 1987 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) PBC Tirana Albania
PG 9 Jani, Mired 26 – (1990-03-14)14 March 1990 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) PBC Tirana Albania
PF 10 Dusha, Elvisi 22 – (1994-07-15)15 July 1994 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Sigal Prishtina Kosovo
PG 11 Lasku, Genti 31 – (1985-03-24)24 March 1985 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) PBC Tirana Albania
SG 13 Topalli, Adriano 22 – (1994-02-01)1 February 1994 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
C 14 Hysenagolli, Endrit 28 – (1988-07-05)5 July 1988 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in) KB Peja Kosovo
PF 15 Shima, Gerti 30 – (1986-05-09)9 May 1986 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) Sigal Prishtina Kosovo
PG 17 Shestani, Robert 22 – (1993-09-14)14 September 1993 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) BC Kamza Basket Albania
C 19 Deda, Denis 26 – (1990-05-08)8 May 1990 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)
PG 23 Broadus, Rashaun 32 – (1984-08-05)5 August 1984 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) MKS Dąbrowa Górnicza (basketball) Poland
Head coach
Assistant coach
Legend
  • Club – describes last
    club as of 3 September 2016
  • Age – describes age
    as of 3 September 2016

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] 2016–

Record by opponents

Official games

As of 4 September 2016
Opponent Games Wins Draws Losses Points for Points against Point difference Notes
Algeria Algeria 4 4 0 0 324 207 +117 [lower-alpha 1]
Andorra Andorra 1 1 0 0 111 101 +10
Austria Austria 3 0 0 3 138 185 -47
Azerbaijan Azerbaijan 4 1 0 3 293 305 -12
Belarus Belarus 8 0 0 8 531 620 -89
Belgium Belgium 6 0 0 6 311 532 -221
Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina 1 0 0 1 76 81 -5
Bulgaria Bulgaria 9 0 0 9 395 813 -418 [lower-alpha 2]
Cambodia Cambodia 1 1 0 0 82 81 +1
China China 8 5 2 1 613 582 +31
Croatia Croatia 1 0 0 1 70 94 -24
Cuba Cuba 1 1 0 0 50 48 +2
Cyprus Cyprus 5 1 0 4 306 396 -90
Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia 3 0 0 3 117 273 -156
Denmark Denmark 1 0 0 1 65 99 -34
North Korea DPR Korea 3 0 0 3 220 260 -40
East Germany East Germany 4 0 0 4 266 346 -80
Egypt Egypt 3 0 0 3 189 325 -136
England England 2 1 0 1 169 159 +10
Estonia Estonia 2 0 0 2 113 173 -60
Finland Finland 4 0 0 4 252 387 -135
France France 2 0 0 2 126 179 -53
Free Territory of Trieste Free Territory of Trieste 2 0 0 2 45 78 -33
Georgia (country) Georgia 1 0 0 1 47 86 -39
Germany Germany 3 0 0 3 187 235 -48
Gibraltar Gibraltar 1 1 0 0 94 73 +21
United Kingdom Great Britain 2 0 0 2 147 182 -35
Greece Greece 10 2 0 8 689 894 -205
Guinea Guinea 1 1 0 0 70 52 +18
Hungary Hungary 5 0 0 5 213 486 -273
Indonesia Indonesia 1 0 0 1 89 104 -15
Israel Israel 3 0 0 3 109 228 -119 [lower-alpha 3]
Iceland Iceland 2 2 0 0 197 148 +49
Republic of Ireland Ireland 2 0 0 2 147 183 -36
Italy Italy 10 1 0 9 569 792 -223
Latvia Latvia 1 0 0 1 78 94 -16
Lebanon Lebanon 1 1 0 0 87 58 +29
Luxembourg Luxembourg 6 4 0 2 504 429 +75
Republic of Macedonia Macedonia 1 0 0 1 74 100 -26
Mali Mali 1 1 0 0 75 60 +15
Malta Malta 2 2 0 0 173 136 +37
Moldova Moldova 1 0 0 1 93 95 -2
Mongolia Mongolia 1 1 0 0 106 59 +47
Montenegro Montenegro 2 0 0 2 146 205 -59
Morocco Morocco 1 0 0 1 67 108 -41
Netherlands Netherlands 4 0 0 4 276 376 -100
North Vietnam North Vietnam 1 0 0 1 69 70 -1
Norway Norway 1 1 0 0 81 77 +4
Poland Poland 7 0 0 7 433 646 -213
Philippines Philippines 2 1 0 1 166 168 -2
Qatar Qatar 1 1 0 0 71 70 +1
Romania Romania 16 1 0 15 839 1368 -529
San Marino San Marino 3 3 0 0 246 223 +23
Senegal Senegal 3 3 0 0 197 139 +58
Serbia Serbia 1 1 0 0 83 69 +14
Scotland Scotland 5 1 0 4 351 389 -38
Slovakia Slovakia 2 0 0 2 151 194 -43
Spain Spain 1 0 0 1 73 106 -33
Soviet Union Soviet Union 1 0 0 1 50 99 -49
Sudan Sudan 1 1 0 0 116 74 +42
Sweden Sweden 3 1 0 2 203 250 +47
Switzerland Switzerland 5 2 0 4 375 417 -42
Turkey Turkey 12 0 0 12 840 1038 -198
Ukraine Ukraine 1 0 0 1 65 71 -6
Wales Wales 2 2 0 0 181 139 +42
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslavia 12 0 0 12 554 1040 -486
60 Countries 307 75 66 163 281 483 -202

Unofficial games

As of 1986
Opponent Games Wins Draws Losses Points for Points against Point difference Notes
Albania Albania Youth 1 1 0 0 76 48 +28 [lower-alpha 4]
China Beijing 1 1 0 0 73 65 +8 [lower-alpha 5]
Bulgaria Bulgaria Youth 1 0 0 1 49 64 -15 [lower-alpha 6]
China China Youth 1 1 0 0 77 64 +13 [lower-alpha 7]
North Korea DPR Korea Security Forces 1 1 0 0 102 92 +10 [lower-alpha 8]
China Jiangsu 2 1 0 1 65 73 -8 [lower-alpha 9][lower-alpha 10]
China Jilin/Liaoning/Heilongjiang Army 1 0 0 1 49 78 -29 [lower-alpha 11]
China Jilin Youth 1 1 0 0 121 69 +52 [lower-alpha 12]
China Jinan 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 [lower-alpha 13]
China Liaoning 1 1 0 0 76 69 +7 [lower-alpha 14]
Kosovo Kosovo 1 1 0 0 71 67 +4 [lower-alpha 15]
China Nei Mongol 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 [lower-alpha 16]
United States New Balance All-Stars 1 1 0 0 58 81 -23 [lower-alpha 17]
North Korea Pyongyang 1 0 0 1 89 90 -1 [lower-alpha 18]
Romania Romania Youth 1 0 0 1 31 71 -40 [lower-alpha 19]
Romania Romania Universities 1 0 0 1 53 77 -24 [lower-alpha 20]
Italy Selezione Universitaria LNP 1 1 0 0 77 76 +1 [lower-alpha 21]
China Shanghai 2 1 0 1 144 134 +10 [lower-alpha 22][lower-alpha 23]
China Shanxi 1 1 0 0 84 64 +20 [lower-alpha 24]
China Shenyang 1 1 0 0 107 75 +32 [lower-alpha 25]
China Shenyang Youth 1 1 0 0 133 83 +50 [lower-alpha 26]
China Tianjin 1 1 0 0 67 59 +8 [lower-alpha 27]
China 1st August 2 1 0 1 148 153 -5 [lower-alpha 28][lower-alpha 29]
North Korea 8th February 1 1 0 0 95 86 +9 [lower-alpha 30]
60 Countries 307 75 66 163 281 483 -202

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

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 played Kosovo 4 days after the declaration of independence in an unofficial friendly.
  16. ↑ 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.
  17. ↑ 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.
  18. ↑ Albania lost to a squad representing the Pyongyang 90–89 during a tour of North Korea in 1977.
  19. ↑ Albania lost 71–31 to Romania's youth national team at the 1959 Balkan Championship in Bucharest.
  20. ↑ Albania lost 77–53 to a squad representing Romania's universities at the Cup of Friendship youth tournament held in Bucharest in 1960.
  21. ↑ 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.
  22. ↑ Albania defeated a squad representing Shanghai 75–65 during a tour of China in 1972.
  23. ↑ Albania lost to a squad representing Shanghai 71–69 during a tour of China in 1974.
  24. ↑ Albania defeated a squad representing Shanxi 84–64 during a tour of China in 1972.
  25. ↑ Albania defeated a squad representing Shenyang 107–75 during a tour of China in 1977.
  26. ↑ Albania defeated a youth squad representing Shenyang 133–83 during a tour of China in 1977.
  27. ↑ Albania defeated a squad representing Tianjin 67–59 during a tour of China in 1972.
  28. ↑ Albania defeated a squad representing the Chinese Army called 1st August 71–69 during a tour of China in 1974.
  29. ↑ Albania lost to a squad representing the Chinese Army called 1st August 84–77 during a tour of China in 1977.
  30. ↑ 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
  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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