BC Astana

Summary

Astana Basketball Club (Kazakh: Astana Basketbol Kluby), commonly referred to as BC Astana, is a Kazakh professional basketball club that is based in Astana, Kazakhstan. Founded in 2011, it has competed in the Kazakhstan Basketball Championship and the VTB United League since, obtaining many domestic titles in the process.

BC Astana
BC Astana logo
LeaguesKazakhstan Championship
VTB United League
West Asia Super League
Founded2011; 13 years ago (2011)
HistoryBC Astana
(2011–present)
ArenaSaryarka Velodrome
(capacity: 10,000)
Zhekpe-zhek
(capacity: 5,000)
LocationAstana, Kazakhstan
Team colorsBlack, blue
   
PresidentSamson Arakelyan
Head coachFotis Takianos
Championships10 Domestic titles
9 Domestic cups
Websitepbcastana.kz/en

History edit

BC Astana was created in March 2011, with the aim of competing in the VTB United League. Valery Tikhonenko was chosen as the team's general director. There were doubts expressed by other clubs in the VTB United League, about whether or not the club would be a good addition to the competition, due to the lack of basketball tradition in Kazakhstan; but the side answered all the admission requirements, including their budget, stadium (a revamped Saryarka Velodrome) and the proximity of hotels, and an international airport. The side received the totality of its funding from the Samruk-Kazyna sovereign wealth fund.[1][2]

They would sign a number of Kazakhstani players from successful side Astana Tigers, also recruiting their head coach, Vitaly Strebkov, to serve as the team's assistant coach.[3][4]

In their first season in the VTB United regional league, the team from Kazakhstan won 7 games out of 16 during 2011–12 regular season, including games against strong sides, such as Žalgiris and the defending title holders, Khimki, nearly reaching the playoffs.[5] They had more success on the domestic front, winning the Kazakhstani national domestic league championship, and the Kazakhstani Cup.

The team became a part of the Astana Presidential Club multi-sports club, when it was formed in December 2012.

Arenas edit

 
BC Astana vs. BC Azovmash, VTB United League regular season game in 2014, at Saryarka Velodrome.

BC Astana plays its home basketball games at the Saryarka Velodrome, which has a seating capacity of 10,000 people for basketball games.

Logos edit

Players edit

Current roster edit

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

BC Astana roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age
PG 2   Johnson, Markell 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 85 kg (187 lb) 25 – (1998-08-25)25 August 1998
PG 3   Murzagaliyev, Rustam 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 84 kg (185 lb) 31 – (1992-05-24)24 May 1992
F 21   Marchuk, Roman 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 85 kg (187 lb) 31 – (1993-03-26)26 March 1993
C 24   Gavrilov, Dmitriy 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) 94 kg (207 lb) 37 – (1986-11-27)27 November 1986
SF 25   Marchuk, Maxim 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 30 – (1994-01-17)17 January 1994
C 35   Kanygin, Igor 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in) 110 kg (243 lb) 29 – (1994-06-30)30 June 1994
SF 47   Aitkali, Ruslan 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 96 kg (212 lb) 26 – (1997-12-19)19 December 1997
C 55   Maidekin, Askar 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 99 kg (218 lb) 26 – (1997-05-28)28 May 1997
Head coach
  •   Oleg Kiselev
Assistant coach(es)
  •   Gleb Plotnikov
Team manager
  •   Rustem Mukanov

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  •   Injured

  • Roster
Updated: October 2, 2023

Depth chart edit

Pos. Starting 5 Bench
C Dmitriy Gavrilov Askar Maidekin
PF Igor Kanygin
SF Maxim Marchuk Ruslan Aitkali
SG Roman Marchuk
PG Rustam Murzagaliyev Markell Johnson

Season by season edit

Season Domestic competitions Kazakhstani Cup Regional competitions Continental competitions
Tier League Pos. Postseason League Pos. Result Tier League Result
2011–12 1 KBC 1 Champion Winner (x2)
7
DNP
2012–13 1 KBC 1 Champion Winner
5
1R
DNP
2013–14 1 KBC 1 Champion Winner
5
1R
DNP
2014–15 1 KBC 1 Champion DNP
8
QF
3
FIBA EuroChallenge
T16
2015–16 1 KBC 2 Runners-up DNP
15
3
FIBA Europe Cup
RS
2016–17 1 KBC 1 Champion Winner
8
QF
DNP
2017–18 1 KBC 1 Champion Winner
10
FIBA Asia Champions Cup
Bronze
2018–19 1 KBC 1 Champion Winner
6
QF
DNP
2019–20 1 KBC 1 Champion DNP
9
DNP
2020–21 1 KBC 1 Champion Winner
12
FIBA Asia Champions Cup
2021–22 1 KBC 1 Champion
10
DNP

Trophies and awards edit

Head coaches edit

Notable players edit

To appear in this section a player must have either:

- Set a club record or won an individual award as a professional player.
- Played at least one official international match for his senior national team.

References and notes edit

  1. ^ "A brand of our country is well-known all around the world". BC Astana. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  2. ^ "Report on the use of property, BC Astana for the year 2012". BC Astana. Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  3. ^ "Valery Tikhonenko: The goal of "Astana" - is return big basketball to Kazakhstan". VTB United League. 13 June 2011. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  4. ^ Ibraev, Serik (6 April 2011). "Новые "Тигры"" Русский [New Tigers]. Sports.kz (in Russian). Np.kz. Retrieved 26 June 2015 – via Sports.kz.
  5. ^ "Valeriy Tikhonenko: We are ready to bring multiple surprises in the upcoming season". VTB United League. 3 September 2012. Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.

External links edit

  • Official website
  • Eurobasket.com Team Profile