LA stopover for Bree's ballers as Ireland travel half a world away
Adrian O'Sullivan of Ireland during the FIBA EuroBasket 2029 Pre-Qualifiers Group A match between Ireland and Luxembourg. Pic: Paul Phelan/Sportsfile
Michael Bree's Ireland basketball side will have gone halfway around the world by the time they return to Irish soil in just under two weeks.
While scheduled to face North Macedonia and Azerbaijan in FIBA EuroBasket 2029 Pre-Qualifiers in Skopje and Baku on July 2 and July 5, respectively, a friendly against Armenia in Los Angeles has been added to their itinerary.
At least 25,000km will be travelled between Thursday morning and July 6, with over 30 hours in the air and much more in overall travel time to battle with too.
A lot of ground to cover, but it represents a chance for Bree and his coaching staff to get a significant amount of time together with a youthful 12-man squad containing six uncapped players.
First up is the trip to LA. It's the second time an Irish side has taken on Armenia in the City of Angels, and the second time the invite and budget for the fixture has come from the Armenian side.
While Bree was not the head coach in 2024 when Ireland lost by the minimum, he explained the "win-win" nature of the clash.
"I wasn't a part of the original connection between them, but small (basketball) nations are always looking for competition, and trying to figure out, within budget, how to get games and more contact time with the players," Bree said. "I think it came around because of that, from the Armenian end.
"And obviously it's an opportunity for us, the same thing, we are a small nation, we are looking for opportunities, so obviously it was a win-win for both of us. I'm glad it's happening again.
"(It was) a little bit rushed this time around... but nevertheless, one extra game, more contact time, being able to bond on the road as team, so there are a lot of benefits to taking part in it."
Ben Stevens (Alliance Montreal), Leeroy Odiahi (Western Kentucky, USA), Declan Gbinigie (Titans BC), Aivaras Uosis (Carsen Newman University, USA), Tiernan Stynes (Quincy University, USA) and Victor Okojie (UMass Lowell, USA) could all make their senior debuts if they take to the floor, be it against the Armenians or in the trips to Skopje and Baku thereafter.
Bree will be looking to improve on their 1-3 record and fourth-place position in Group A, all while building some needed depth in the squad.
Given that inexperience in the squad, much of the on-floor leadership will fall to Sean Flood, Ballincollig's Adrian O'Sullivan and Sam Alajiki. The head coach is fully confident they can provide just that.
“It’s a very new group when you add Sean (Fitzpatrick) and Max (Amadasun) - who have only been with us for a couple of windows - so it’s important Sean (Flood), Adrian (O’Sullivan) and Sam (Alajiki) to keep driving the standards we’ve been working to achieve during the current qualifying campaign."
He added on the trio: "Their role is going to be so important for the younger guys coming in. We're starting to establish a culture, we have a certain way that we want to do things, how we want to act, how we want to be around each other, how we want to treat practice, games.
"Those guys are aware of it... They're the catalyst for everyone else. I'm looking forward to seeing their leadership role grow and what they can get out of their teammates."
Max Amadasun (Cultural Y Deportiva Leonesa, SPA), Rapolas Buivydas (Belfast Star), Sean Flood (Heroes Den Bosch, NED), Sean Fitzpatrick (UCD Marian), Sam Alajiki (Giorgio Tesi Group Pistona, ITA), Declan Gbinigie (Titans BC), Aivaras Uosis (Carsen Newman University, USA), Ben Stevens (Alliance Monteral, CAN), Adrian O’Sullivan (Ballincollig BC), Tiernan Stynes (Quincy University, USA), Leeroy Odiahi (Western Kentucky, USA), Victor Okojie (UMass Lowell, USA).
Armenia v Ireland, Los Angeles (USA), 01:00, Live on YouTube, Details TBC
North Macedonia v Ireland, Skopje, 17:00, Live on TG4
Azerbaijan v Ireland, Baku Sports Palace, Baku, 14:00, Live on TG4 Player
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