Shooting for gold

Edgar Melik-Stepanyan

{LDQUO}This is a new team,” Anthony Khotsikian said.

The facts mostly support Khotsikian’s statement about the men’s

basketball players on the Glendale-based team representing the

Homenetmen Ararat Chapter that will compete in the Fourth Pan

Armenian Games in Yerevan, Armenia.

Of the 14 players on the Glendale squad, eight are newcomers. Of

all the athletes, almost half are less than five years removed from

high school.

With all the freshness comes a new challenge for Glendale.

On Wednesday, Glendale will embark on a journey to Armenia’s

capital to defend a championship it won in the Third Pan Armenian

Games.

The Pan Armenian Games will start Saturday and conclude Aug. 27,

when Glendale hopes to celebrate like it did in 2003. Glendale turned

in a remarkable performance, stepping on to the world stage to defeat

every opponent en route to upending Yerevan, which consisted of

mostly Armenian national players, 97-92, in overtime in the

gold-medal game.

But Khotsikian -- one of four returners from the 2003 team --

pointed out that Glendale hasn’t forgotten its memorable trip, but he

said “that’s over.”

“It happened,” he said. “We can’t think about it.”

What’s on the mind of this Glendale team is another medal to add

to the one it has.

Just like in 2003, the Glendale Ararat Chapter, the largest of its

kind in the Western United States, assembled exclusively Glendale

athletes to compete in the eight-day, 19-team tournament. Armen

Baghdasarian, Mario Bahramjian, Sevada Bandari, Azad Galustian, Vram

Ismailyan, Henrik Sardarbegian, Alex Tima and Eric Tima will join

Khotsikian and fellow returners Artin Avanessian, Martin Avanessian,

Zareh Avedian, Narbeh Doloukhanian and Greg Gharib on a team that’s

gearing for a repeat.

* * *

“We have a new focus,” said Khotsikian, who, along with Avedian

and Gharib, will share the captain duties.

Part of the focus of this year’s team is making sure to get the

guards involved in the offense. In 2003, Glendale had experienced

guards who controlled the game’s pace.

Glendale’s new guards appear to be talented, but aren’t accustomed

to playing at the international level, where contests tend to be more

physical than some of the athletes endured throughout their high

school careers.

“We’re all anxious,” said Bahramjian, a 2002 Crescenta Valley High

graduate. “We’re playing on a stage that we’ve never played before.”

Avedian, a 1999 Hoover graduate, challenged his new point guards.

“Our point-guard play is going to determine whether we win or

not,” Avedian said. “I know what [the point guards] could do, but

it’s up to them to build up their confidence.”

“We have a lot of young guys on the team. It’s [the leaders’] job

to take care of them and get them prepared to play.”

Added Coach Arthur Rumaya: “We’re low on guards.”

The shooting guards, Rumaya said, will need to make their shots to

create space for the big men in the post. He said this year’s team is

stronger and bigger than the one in 2003, but if the guards don’t hit

their shots, Glendale’s size will be irrelevant.

Doloukhanian, Baghdasarian, Bandari and Bahramjian possess the

soft shooting touch that could open up the inside for Avedian

(6-foot-7), Galustian (6-6), Gharib (6-6) and Khotsikian (6-5).

The offense will likely work through Avedian, who graduated from

California Lutheran University in 2004. Though he might be double or

tripled teamed, Avedian said it will be key for his teammates to

drain their shots.

“He was playing at a level that was unbelievable in 2003,” Rumaya

said of Avedian, who scored 49 points in the championship game

against Yerevan. “We haven’t seen it in him since. I’m hoping Armenia

will bring it out in him again.”

* * *

“We have a new mentality,” said Khotsikian, who helped the Western

USA team -- which consisted of mostly players from Glendale -- win

the Homenetmen Games in Athens on Aug. 8.

Not used to being the defending champion, Glendale will look to

avoid possible pitfalls that might make it difficult for a repeat

championship performance.

“Everyone is going to be gunning for us, especially because we

carry the name of champions,” said Rumaya, who is assisted by

Glendale High girls’ basketball Coach Fred Babadjanians and Andre

Pashai. “There are four teams that should be better than us, but that

doesn’t mean we’re going to go over there and concede.”

Despite being the defending champion, Glendale’s athletes say they

don’t feel pressure to repeat.

“We’re the underdogs,” Avedian said.

Like in 2003, it will go to Armenia brimming with confidence.

If it plays at its best, Rumaya said there’s no reason why

Glendale shouldn’t find itself in the title game.

“When they are playing at their best, they are unbeatable,” Rumaya

said. “The problem is that you have to maintain that. We’ll find out

if they’ll do it.”

GOING FOR GOLD ... AGAIN

A look at the Glendale-based men’s basketball team representing

the Homenetmen Ararat Chapter at the Fourth Pan Armenian Games:

* Artin Avanessian (Hoover High, 1994)

* Martin Avanessian (Hoover High, 1997)

* Zareh Avedian (Hoover High, 1999)

* Armen Baghdasarian (Hoover High, 2003)

* Mario Bahramjian (Crescenta Valley High, 2002)

* Sevada Bandari (Crescenta Valley High, 2005)

* Narbeh Doloukhanian (Hoover High, 1999)

* Azad Galustian (Glendale High, 2001)

* Greg Gharib (Glendale High, 1991)

* Vram Ismailyan (Hoover High, 2001)

* Anthony Khotsikian (Reseda High, 1995)

* Henrik Sardarbegian (Hoover High, 1998)

* Alex Tima (Crescenta Valley, 1998)

* Eric Tima (Crescenta Valley High, 2001)

* Coaches: Arthur Rumaya, Fred Babadjanians, Andre Pashai

* EDGAR MELIK-STEPANYAN covers sports. He can be reached at (818)

637-3226 or by e-mail at o7edgar.stepanyan@latimes.com.

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