Anton Ponomarev

Anton Ponomarev (born 31 October 1988) is a Kazakhstani professional basketball player for BC Astana.

Anton Ponomarev
No. 11 – BC Astana
PositionPower forward / Center
LeagueKazakhstan Championship
VTB United League
FIBA Asia Champions Cup
Personal information
Born (1988-10-31) October 31, 1988
Kostanay, Kazakhstan
NationalityKazakhstani
Listed height209 cm (6 ft 10 in)
Listed weight114 kg (251 lb)
Career information
NBA draft2010 / Undrafted
Playing career2002–present
Career history
2002–2010Astana Tigers
2010FMP Belgrade
2011Spartak Primorje
2011–presentBC Astana
Career highlights and awards

Professional career

Astana Tigers

Ponomarev was brought to the capital Astana by newly formed Astana Tigers in 2000, along with other Kostanay players such as Rustam Yargaliev. They lived in the Olympic reserve school with other athletes.[1][2][3]

Ponomarev started playing in the Kazakhstan Basketball Championship during the 2002-2003 season. At only 15, he already measured 209 cm (6 ft 10 1⁄2 in), the second tallest player in the country.[4]

The next season Ponomarev and the Tigers won their first titles, achieving a domestic double with the Cup and the Championship. The Astana side would proceed to win the next 5 championships whilst he was playing for them, also adding 2 more cups.

He entered the 2009 NBA draft as an early entrant in May 2009,[5] but withdrew before the deadline.[6] After participating in the Reebok Eurocamp in Treviso, he signed a 4-year contract with French side Hyères-Toulon Var Basket in June of the same year.[7] However, it later emerged that he was still under contract with Astana, who opposed the move, leading him to stay in Kazakhstan.[8]

In September 2010 the Kazakhstani moved to Serbian side FMP Belgrade following the expiry of his Tigers contract, reportedly signing a multi-year deal.[9] He averaged only 5.7 minutes (0.8 points and 1.4 rebounds) in 9 games for FMP, leading to a mutual separation with the Serbians.[1][10]

He then joined second division Russian Basketball Super League side Spartak Primorje in early 2011, first on trial then on a permanent contract in February.[11] Ponomarev stayed there until the end of the season, contributing 6.1 points and 5.1 rebounds in about 14 minutes per game in 14 games.[12]

Whilst in Russia, he was contacted by Valeri Tikhonenko, the general manager of newly formed BC Astana to ask him to join the club and play in the VTB United League, an offer he accepted.[3]

He was named the initial Top Kazakh Player by the league in 2013 after posting 8 points and 5.3 rebounds for a 10.4 efficiency rating in the league during 2012-13.[13]

International career

Ponomarev made his debut for the Kazakhstan national basketball team with the Under-18's at the 2004 FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship.[14]

He played for the senior side at the 2007 FIBA Asia Championship, leading the team in scoring and rebounding with 17.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, 8th best in the tournament for the latter.[15]

In the 2009 FIBA Asia Championship he posted 15.6 points and 9.6 rebounds (3rd best in tournament).[16]

In the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship he had a lessened impact, posting 7.8 points and 7.8 rebounds, albeit again best rebounder for Kazakhstan (and 8th best overall).[17] His coach Matteo Boniciolli, whilst labeling him a major player for the team, bemoaned his up and down performances.[18]

At the 2014 Asian Games he contributed 11.4 points and a tournament best 9.3 rebounds for Kazakhstan.[19]

Personal

Ponomarev originally practiced kickboxing, with no interest in basketball until he was 10 years old and attended a training session with a friend, at first he only played as a hobby before taking the game more seriously later.[1][3]

References
  1. Strelnikov, Alexander (6 April 2012). "Антон Пономарев: "На каждый поединок настраиваемся всерьез"" Русский [Anton Ponomarev: Ready for every game]. Gazeta.kz (in Russian). Sports.kz. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015 – via Gazeta.kz.
  2. "Рустам Яргалиев: Боничиолли учит предельной концентраци" Русский [Boniciolli teaches concentration to the limit]. BC Astana (in Russian). Sports.kz. 24 January 2013. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015 – via BC Astana.
  3. "Anton Ponomarev: We'll play to win until the final horn". BC Astana. 14 April 2013. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  4. "15-летний баскетболист из Астаны хочет дорасти до лучшего центрового Казахстана" Русский [15-year-old basketball player from Astana wants to grow into the best center in Kazakhstan]. Gazeta.kz (in Russian). 17 September 2003. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  5. "Eurobasket news report – 5/29/2009: Anton Ponomarev for NBA Draft 2009". Eurobasket.com. 29 May 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  6. "Early-entry candidates withdraw from 2009 NBA Draft". NBA. New York. 16 June 2009. Archived from the original on 27 October 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  7. "Eurobasket news report – 6/25/2009: Paris-Levallois inks American Lamont Hamilton, Hyeres-Toulon adds big guy". Eurobasket.com. 25 June 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  8. "Avec ou sans Ponomarev?" [With or without Ponomarev]. L'Équipe (in French). 18 August 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  9. "Eurobasket news report – 9/27/2010: Kazakh talent signs in Serbia for FMP". Eurobasket.com. 27 September 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  10. "Anton Ponomarev - Season 2010/2011". FIBA. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  11. "Антон Пономарев в БК Спартак-Приморье" Русский [Anton Ponomarev to Spartak Primorje]. BC Barsy Atyrau (in Russian). Spartak Primorje. 7 February 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2015 – via BC Barsy Atyrau.
  12. "Пономарев Антон" Русский [Ponomarev Anton]. Russian Basketball Federation (in Russian). Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  13. "Anton Ponomarev – League's top Kazakh player". VTB United League. 1 May 2013. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  14. Mageshwaran, S. (10 October 2010). "KAZ - No plans to move out of Kazakh league for now: Ponomarev". FIBA. Kuwait. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  15. "Kazakhstan: 11 – Anton Ponomarev". FIBA. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  16. "Kazakhstan: 11 – Anton Ponomarev". FIBA. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  17. "Kazakhstan: 11 – Anton Ponomarev". FIBA. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  18. Henson, Joaquin (9 August 2015). "Do-or-die duel a dream come true". The Philippine Star. Manila (Philippines). Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  19. "Basketball (Men) – Individual statistics". 2014 Asian Games. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
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