The Angolan Basketball Federation (FAB) on Wednesday confirmed the final 12-man list of the country's national basketball team for the coming FIBA Basketball World Cup in China. Valdelicio Joaquim will return for the first time since 2016.
The list goes as follows:
Jose Antonio (forward), Olimpio Cipriano (guard), Leandro Jacques Conceicao (guard), Gerson Domingos (guard), Jerson Lukeny Goncalves (guard), Valdelicio Joaquim (center), Hermenegildo Mbunga (center), Eduardo Mingas (center), Carlos Morais (guard), Reggie Moore (forward), Yanick Morais (center) and Leonel Paulo (forward).
Valdelicio Joaquim of Angola in the game against Mexico in Group D at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain, September 2, 2014. /VCG Photo
The last time Joaquim played for his country was in the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, Serbia. Though the 2.08-meter center was not included in the training camp preliminary squad, he will play the second Basketball World Cup in his career.
"I have never refused to play for my country. I had just finished a contract in Argentina and moved to France (to play for PRO B side Quimper). I needed to concentrate and grab that opportunity. All I want now is to be integrated and help the team," Joaquim told the Jornal de Angola.
FAB also released the team's traveling plan. They will depart for Asia on Wednesday and play two warm-up games with China and South Korea before joining Italy, Serbia and the Philippines in Group D in Foshan in south China's Guangdong Province.
"As we continue to rebuild basketball in Angola, it is great to have four players participating in their first World Cup," head coach Will Voigt told FIBA.
Eduardo Mingas (R) of Angola in the game against South Korea in Group D at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain, August 30, 2014. /VCG Photo
Angola will have four new faces, Antonio, Conceicao, Domingos and Goncalves, at the World Cup. Their fans will also meet an old friend, 40-year-old Mingas. After this tournament, Mingas will be one of the few guys who have played in five World Cups.
"I expect our guys to play hard, play together and compete for 40 minutes. As long as we do that, the results will take care of themselves," said Voigt.