International Basketball Comes to Fresno: Armenia vs. Costa Rica

Sports

By David Taub, Senior Reporter

Published 3 weeks ago on

June 4, 2025

The national basketball teams of Armenia and Costa Rica will play Friday night at Fresno City College. (GV Wire Composite/Paul Marshall)

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Armenia’s Olympic basketball dreams runs through Fresno.

The national teams from Armenia and Costa Rica will meet at Fresno City College on Friday in an exhibition game.

Armenia vs. Costa Rica

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Where: Fresno City College gym

The game is billed as the Jerry Tarkanian Classic — named after the legendary basketball coach of Armenian descent who played and coached at Fresno State.

Armenia hopes to qualify for the 2028 Olympics.

Team Armenia Head Coach Rex Kalamian said the game “is a tremendous opportunity for our Armenian and Latin communities to see their national teams in action and personally connect with the players.

“What makes this event even more special is the chance to honor Coach Jerry Tarkanian and recognize his tremendous impact on the game and the Central Valley,” Kalamian said.

Kalamian is an assistant coach with the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks.

The Armenian team is led by Chris Jones, a Texan with several years of international experience.

FIBA ranks Armenia 91st in the world and Costa Rica 74th.

Tipoff is Friday at 7 p.m. at the Fresno City College gym. Tickets can be found here.

The teams will also meet Sunday in La Crescenta.

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David Taub,

Senior Reporter

Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email