Bednyakov ready to guide Russia to first FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup

MOSCOW (FIBA U16 European Championship 2017) - Gleb Bednyakov plans on making history at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2017 with his top objective to help Russia qualify for the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup for the first time.

"Qualifying for the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup is our main goal. We can become the first [Russian] national team to play at the tournament," Bednyakov said. "We will give our all for this."

Russia, who will be facing Estonia, France and Italy in Group C in Montenegro, used to be one of the leading nations at cadet level in Europe, collecting six podium finishes between 1993 and 2006. But they have not reached the U16 Semi-Finals since taking second place in 2006.

"That makes me feel bad for my country," Bednyakov said about Russia's lack of good results in the last decade. "We will try to turn it around."

The generation before Bednyakov already made a major turnaround for the Russian youth ranks. In 2015, the Russians were banned from competing internationally and therefore relegated from Division A at the U16 level. After regaining competitive status, Russia bounced back strong and took the title last summer at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2016, Division B.

"[The 2000-born generation] proved that Russia is a good team. I think that tournament showed that defense wins championships," said Bednyakov, referring to the Russians giving up just 61 points a game last summer while averaging 70 at the other end.

"Qualifying for the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup is our main goal. We can become the first national team to play at the tournament. We will give our all for this."Gleb BednyakovGleb Bednyakov

Bednyakov, who picked up the game when he was 5 years old in Novosibirsk, is looking forward to representing Russia for the first time.

"It will be very exciting because this is my first competition for the national team. I'll be very proud to take part in this competition," said Bednyakov, who moved to Moscow in 2016. 

The 6ft 5in (1.95m) shooting guard comes into the tournament in Montenegro after having success back home. In 2015-16, he led the Russian U16 Championship in scoring, with 34 points a game for Novosibirsk, and this past season he was the U16 Russian league MVP for Team Moscow 1. He also played for Trinta Moscow in the European Youth Basketball League (EYBL) and the U16 Russian Basketball Federation team in the Russian U18 League.

"I played about 21 minutes in all three teams and my main task was to save my usefulness in the games. I think this worked out. I started looking for my teammates more," Bednyakov said.

In the U18 league, Bednyakov averaged 8.8 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists.

"We are going to Montenegro to win. We must stay together and encourage each other. We will play each game like it is the last one and fight for every ball.Gleb BednyakovGleb Bednyakov

"It is always necessary to play with those who are stronger than you for your progress," he said. "It was a great experience. I became stronger because of it."

The next task for Bednyakov is to be a leader on the Russian team heading to Podgorica, where the goal is clear.

"We are going to Montenegro to win," he said. "We must stay together and encourage each other. We will play each game like it is the last one and fight for every ball."

FIBA