9 Oshin Sahakian (IRI)
05/01/2017
Asia
to read

Sahakian and Petrochimi on a golden path

TEHRAN - Petrochimi have been the gold standard of Iranian club basketball for quite some time, though they fell short of winning the top prize in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2016. The decorated club have won many titles in the Iranian Basketball League (IBL - formerly the IBF Superleague), and, judging by how well they are doing, Petrochimi are sure to be among the favorites again this season.

.@petrosportclub will rise to the #FIBAAsiaCC podium as 3rd! Congratulations 🎉 to the team representing 🇮🇷

A photo posted by FIBA Asia Champions Cup (@fibaasiacc) on

The are currently sitting atop the IBL Superleague table, winning ten of their eleven games so far. Imports Gerald Robinson and James White have been stellar. Ditto with rising star Behnam Yakhchali. One of the team's glue guys, however, has been veteran Oshin Sahakian.

The 30-year-old power forward is not putting up eye-popping numbers, but he remains a solid performer for a club that has had a storied legacy. Petrochimi have won three of the last five Superleague titles, and have reached the Tournament Final five of the last six times.

Sahakian feels that his team has a very good shot at returning to the top and defending their crown. He serves as a bridge of sorts between the team's young guns and its old hands, and his role as a leader has never been as critical as it is now. If Petrochimi are to continue treading this golden path, Sahakian knows it will take a lot of hard work to complete that trek.

He said as much in an interview with FIBA.com.

How does it feel to be the leaders in the IBL Super League right now?
Well, we have a good team this year. As most of the years in Iranian league, we have a variety of players which helps the coaching staff playing different types of basketball, and this leads to a top record and satisfaction for the club and players.

What have Petrochimi been doing right so far? What needs to be improved?
We practice hard everyday. We have a top notch coaching staff and good management, which makes our job easier. We one lost once this season so far, which means everything is almost going smoothly, but we need some adjustments to defend our title in the IBL and the WABA tournament.

ديدار پتروشيمى بندرامام و شهردارى اراك #photo: @afrasiabi.morteza

A photo posted by بسكتبال پتروشيمى بندرامام (@petrochimibasketball) on

How did the FIBA Asia Champions Cup in Chenzhou prepare the team for the new Iranian league season? Does Petrochimi have a great shot at winning the league?
It helped us a lot. Although the team gathered just a week before the tournament and James and Gerald didn't know the style of game on this part of the world while Jamshidi was injured, we had a good tournament. We were so close to beating hosts China Kashgar, but at the end we lost. But overall, the FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2016 helped us improve, and no doubt we are the favorites to win the title this season.

How does this club competition help get the country’s best players get ready for the national team?
With top foreigners signing in Iran this season, the level of competition is higher than last year. Arak and Abadan have great teams, and other teams had some great wins also. You can't predict any games. This level will help our local players to bring their A-game to the court, and this will help them grow and eventually will have a positive effect on our National Team.

You were part of the “golden generation” of Iranian basketball; how do you rate this new young team?
I still believe the generation everyone calls "Golden" is not finished. I'm glad to be considered part of that generation, and I'm also happy to be part of this team. My role, of course, is different, and I feel more responsibility helping the younger players understand the importance of teamwork, the sweetness of winning and to transfer the hunger we had on our time to win title after title. We paved a way, and we do everything so that "Team Melli" will be successful. We all need to work hard for that.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 🏀🏀🏀🏀🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

A photo posted by Oshin (@oshinsah11) on


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