Armenia to Face Bulgaria Without Key Leaders, but Hopes Rest on Melikyan

Today, the Armenian national team will play a crucial group-stage match against Bulgaria. The game is decisive for Armenia, which remains without a win after two rounds.

The team will be without several key players — Andre Spight-Mkrtchyan, Chris Jones, and Gabriel Ajemian will all miss the match. The absence of these leaders will significantly affect the team’s rotation and tactical setup. Spight-Mkrtchyan is sidelined with an injury, Chris Jones was not released by his club Maccabi Tel Aviv due to European competitions, and Gabriel Ajemian does not play home games in Armenia because of document-related issues.

American guard Darius McGhee, who plays for French top-division club Bourges, has been called up to replace Chris Jones. This will be his first appearance for the national team. McGhee is expected to take on major responsibility, effectively filling the roles of both Spight-Mkrtchyan and Jones in the backcourt.

Yura Melikyan will have more opportunities to contribute offensively, as he is currently in excellent form. The Armenian center recently joined Swiss club Starwings Basel and has already played three games in the top division, averaging 18.3 points and 6.3 rebounds, while his team secured two wins.

In the first two rounds, Armenia lost to Bulgaria and Norway. With two group-stage matches remaining, Armenia must win both to keep its chances of advancing alive.

The EuroBasket 2029 pre-qualification match between Armenia and Bulgaria will take place today, March 2, starting at 8:15 PM Yerevan time.

The game will be streamed live on YouTube.

Armenia National Team Roster:

Albert Tadevosyan — Erebuni
Yura Melikyan — Starwings Basel (Switzerland)
Valeriy Aghajanyan — GAK Gdynia (Poland)
Daniil Kirakosyan — Urartu
Arkadi Mkrtchyan — Urartu
Daniil Gevorgyan — Urartu
Tigran Mkrtumyan — BKMA
Karen Melikyan — Urartu
David Khachatryan — Hatis
Xavier Kilislian — Hodan Prep (Canada)
Darius McGhee — Bourges (France)
Daniel Sanamyan — Khimki (Russia)
Marat Mikaelyan — BKMA
Arayik Gevorgyan — Urartu
Arthur Avagyan — Olimpavan
Nerses Avagyan — Hatis