Basketball

Basketball is a fast-paced and physical sport requiring high cardiac endurance, quick movements, and excellent high-pressure decision making. It is one of a handful of sports that combines all the realms of athleticism into one, and requires an intense level of teamwork and sportsmanship to exhibit success. Despite what some people see and want to emulate in their favorite professional players, basketball is not an individual sport, and being able to work effectively as a team is the most important skill that young players can develop.

Basketball enjoys great popularity among the students at ACS, and there are currently four varsity-level basketball teams in the College: two for boys and two for girls, making us аll proud of their dedication and achievements.

Since the inception of the NALB Schools' League, the ACS basketball teams have proved to be highly competitive. In fact, the boys team has won the league championship twice. The ACS basketball teams have also participated in the WBAIS International Invitational Tournament where they have performed admirably.

Valeri Banchev and Mark McGivern coach the ACS basketball teams.

Coaches

Girls Team: Mark McGivern was born in Glenrothes, Fife, a small town on the east coast of Scotland. He grew up playing soccer, and would have been a professional soccer player today if it weren’t for the Scottish weather. One typically rainy school day he decided to get out of the rain and try a different sport - 15 years later he found himself standing on a volleyball court in London competing for Great Britain in the London 2012 Olympic Games. Turns out rain in Scotland wasn’t a bad thing after all.

Boys Team: Valeri Banchev is a volleyball and basketball coach at ACS, and he is also the Athletic Director of the College. He is a professional volleyball trainer and a national champion in Bulgaria for 2020. Mr. Banchev has been working in the College since 2016, and during that time, the boys volleyball team has earned four golds for ACS.