TALLINN (FIBA U18 European Championship 2017, Division B) - Estonia have made strides in the game of basketball recently. Now, Kristian Kullamae is looking forward to showing that to the home fans at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2017, Division B.

The Estonian capital of Tallinn will be hosting the event from July 28 to August 6 as Kullamae and Co. would love to ride the wave of local support to success.

"I really look forward to it. Lots of players play during the season in other countries and this FIBA U18 European Championship, Division B gives the Estonian people a chance to see us play," said Kullamae, who plays in Germany.

Tallinn hosted the FIBA U16 European Championship 2010, Division B and the FIBA U20 European Championship 2013. Like they did for those tournaments, Kullamae hopes the fans come out for the games.

"I hope to see a lot of fans. I'm sure they will give us a lot of energy and motivation," the 6ft 4in (1.92m) shooting guard said.

But Kullamae says there is no pressure to bring Estonia back to Division A for the first time since 2008.

"For us, this summer is just a good opportunity to improve our game and have fun. If we would move up to Division A, it would be cool," said Kullamae, who will be playing his fourth continental tournament after two FIBA U16 European Championship Division Bs in 2014 and 2015 and the FIBA U18 European Championship Division B last summer. "I am really excited. It is a good opportunity to play again with my friends and show people what we are made of."

Kullamae, who helped Estonia reach Division A at the U16 level in 2015, has basketball tradition in his family. His father Gerd Kullamae played for the Estonian senior national team from 1993 to 2009 and played professionally in Estonia, Belgium, Germany and Netherlands until 2009, when he retired just shy of his 38th birthday. 

Gert Kullamae - here playing for Tartu Rock during the 2007-08 season - played professionally until 2009, retiring just shy of his 38th birthday.

"He gives me advice from his career: what to do better, what I need to improve on and stuff like that," Kullamae said of his father, now a club coach.

Last off-season Kristian made the move from Estonia to Germany to play for ProA second division club Gotha, where he played the whole season despite being just 17-years-old.

"The most difficult part was that I was practicing every day with men, not with guys my own age. But hopefully it helped me to get better," said Kullamae, who also helped Gotha earn promotion to the top flight BBL.

The Tallinn-native was one of four players from Estonia's U18 team who were bottom level-players last year and can come to Tallinn, where the hosts are drawn into Group D with Belgium, Denmark, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ireland and Switzerland. 

"It helps a lot. We know what to expect from the tournament. We can give our experience to others who do not know what to expect."

Not to mention, also showing their compatriots in the stands how far Estonian basketball has come.

FIBA