FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — International basketball in Fresno?

For Team Armenia, it was a slam dunk “YES”.

“There’s a deep connection between California Armenians and the Armenians from [capital] Yerevan,” said head coach Rex Kalamian.

Fresno County is home to 60,000 Armenian-Americans. It’s the metro area that holds the 2nd-largest Armenian population in the country (behind the Los Angeles area).

So, it was an ideal spot for a men’s basketball exhibition between Armenia and Costa Rica at Fresno City College on Friday night.

“Anytime we get the chance to come out to California and play in front of some fans in the United States, it’s an amazing opportunity,” said Armenia forward Zach Tavitian.

“We get a lot of notice for the national team that many people might not have heard of.”

It’s part of the process for Kalamian, who has spent the last three decades as an NBA assistant coach, currently with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Now, he wants to grow the game in Armenia.

“Armenia basketball is not about a group or a club, or an area or a state. We’re about all Armenians,” Kalamian said.

Tip-off against Costa Rica at the Fresno City College gym is 7 p.m, and this will be Armenia’s first-ever game in Fresno.

It won’t just be a game, though; it will be a celebration of the community.

“It’s bigger than basketball, honestly,” said Armenia guard Andre Spight.

Tavitian added, “We’re out here for the fans and for the people of Armenia. We’re always representing.”

Without basketball, some of the players said they wouldn’t feel as close to their native land.

But now? Young, up-and-coming talents like Nebraska freshman Connor Essegian are excited to lace them up for Armenia.

“Growing up, I didn’t know a whole lot about my heritage,” Essegian said. “To dive in and understand my roots and everything the country is about, I really, really love it.”

The name of Friday’s game honors another famous Armenian in basketball. It’s called the “Jerry Tarkanian Classic.”

Just like Tarkanian rebuilt the Fresno State Bulldogs, Kalamian has a vision for Team Armenia.

“The ultimate goal is to make the Olympics,” he said. “Not to win a gold medal, but to actually get into the Olympics would be a major feat for us.”