FIBA World Cup - The Big Tip Off

Almeida, Al Ali to bring the noise at Intercontinental Cup

CAPE Verdean superstar baller Ivan Almeida gave a light chuckle during a telephone interview when he was asked about adding another FIBA competition to his playing rèsumè. The Intercontinental Cup, which commences on Thursday (18-21 September), will be amongst the tournaments he has played in during his illustrious career.

He downplayed the significance of the milestone, intimating that Al Ahli Tripoli, the team he helped qualify for the Basketball Africa League (BAL) last year, and their mission in Singapore, far outweighs his adding another tournament to his playing rèsumè.

“We keep building. For me, it’s another competition. I want to go there and ensure the team is well-represented. It’s not about me having another tournament on my rèsumè. I look at it as an opportunity,” said Almeida. “The team won the BAL, so we are representing Libya and the African continent… Having that opportunity is amazing.

“Whatever we can do to get a good result while we are there, we will do.”

Ivan Almeida Intercontinental Cup 2025 — **Ivan Almeida brings experience to the ranks of Al Ahli. Pictures: FIBA**

Almeida’s time as a basketball player has seen him slip on the Cape Verde jersey on basketball’s great stages – the World Cup and AfroBasket – five times. He has turned out for Portuguese club Benfica in the European Champions League, and lit it up for home club Kriol Star in the Basketball Africa League. The Cape Verdean remarked that he feels right at home with the Libyan giants, and it’s understandable, given the history he’s helped build for the club.

“Joining Al Ahli is good. I know the people here – the management and the players who were there before. I don’t feel like I am coming to something new,” said Almeida, who was speaking from the club’s training camp in Tunisia.

The 37-year-old says he appreciates the club’s new Egyptian coach, Mohamed Elkerdany, making him a part of the club.

“I appreciate the coach for bringing me in for my experience and ability to help the team. The conditions here (in Tunisia) are good. We have been working, and then the next day (Monday), we will leave for Singapore,” said Almeida. “Everything is on the right track, and I hope I can help the team win a lot of games.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ivan F Almeida (@ifalmeida)

Almeida is among five recruits for the Libyan club, alongside 2025 BAL MVP Jean Jacques Boissy, Makur Maker (from South Sudan), Ismael Romero (Puerto Rico) and Marcos Knight (United States).

Despite being assembled in a short time, Almeida says the core of the squad and the recruits have acclimated to one another.

“We have been practising since the sixth. We played a friendly (on Saturday), which we won. It has been a process of adjustment and getting to know each other. The club has high-level players with international experience,” said Almeida. “I think we can go to the Intercontinental Cup and represent ourselves well. And make some noise.

“The practices have been going great, and the coach has been able to implement his system. There is focus and discipline in our team. We are doing everything the coaching staff are demanding of us.”

He again emphasised experience when asked about the value he and other recruits bring to the team.

“I think it’s about combining the energy of the young guys and the experience of the older guys. A player like Boissy is young and energetic. He can play both ends of the floor. I think that’s what defines us. Nobody takes breaks, we play defence and offence,” said Almeida. “It is one of the building blocks when a coach builds the team. From there, we have to hold each other accountable and take the best decisions for the betterment of the team.”

Ivan Almeida FIBA World Cup 2025 — **Ivan Almeida says he is considering his international future with Cape Verde after appearing in a fifth AfroBasket for the island nation in August.**

The future

With the year far from over and still a lot of basketball to play in Africa, with the Road to BAL and World Cup Qualifiers. Are these tournaments part of Almeida’s plans?

The Road to BAL: I am not certain about the Road to BAL. I have signed with Al Ahli for a month, so after October 6, we will see about the Road to BAL,” said Almeida.

FIBA World Cup Qualifiers: “It’s a big question mark regarding the national team. I think it was my last one. I am not sure… It is a big question mark,” said Almeida.

His international future with his country may be in doubt, but on the club front, Almeida can be expected to play lights out for Al Ahli in Singapore.

Almeida, Al Ali to bring the noise at Intercontinental Cup Read More »

Maluach reflects on his mercurial 2023 basketball journey

Leave a Comment

SOUTH Sudanese teenager Khaman Maluach brims with confidence when he speaks about his achievements in basketball and is single-minded about his aspirations in the game.

Given the year Maluach has had, it is understandable why. The giant centre has seen his stock rise in the game, all this happening before his 17th birthday last month.

The path to a successful 2023 so far began in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) for the 2.18m (7ft2) centre, who was part of AS Douanes team that fell short in the final against Egypt’s Al Ahly.

In late July, Maluach was among the 80 players (40 boys and 40 girls) selected for the Basketball Without Borders Camp in Johannesburg and at the end of that camp, he cantered off with the MVP title.

The crowning moment of his young career saw him join South Sudan’s FIBA World Cup campaign between August and September in Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia.

Khaman Maluach at the FIBA World Cup — **Khaman Maluach was proud to represent South Sudan at FIBA World Cup. Pictures: FIBA**

In a Q&A with The Big Tip Off, Maluach reflected on his mercurial journey and what the future could hold for him.

The BTO: How has being part of the NBA Academy in Senegal helped you grow as a player?

KM: It’s been great. I have had a lot of good life experiences at the NBA Academy. They helped to develop my body and skillsets. Also, being among my brothers has been great for me.

The BTO: The Academy features African players from diverse backgrounds. How have you experienced one another’s differences?

KM: In the beginning, it was hard because of the language barrier, but learning one another’s languages has connected us. It has made us brothers forever. The lessons we are learning are much bigger than basketball.

The BTO: You were part of the AS Douanes team that made it to the BAL final. How did you experience that moment?

KM: I was the youngest player to start a BAL final! That was a milestone for me. On the playing side, we did not have the best start. We lost the first two games, and everybody thought we were out. Eventually, we won our next three games and made it to the final. My big takeaway was to believe in yourself before everyone else does. No one expected us to make it to the finals, but we knew we could, and we did.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Olympic Games (@olympics)

The BTO: You participated in this year’s Basketball Without Borders (BWB). How did you experience that camp and walking away with the MVP award?

KM: It was great to play against players I had never met. We were together for a couple of days at the camp. In that time, I formed some friendships with players from other countries. Winning the award was a great achievement. I went there determined to win it. Now, I look forward to BWB Global.

The BTO: You were part of the South Sudan team at the recently concluded FIBA World Cup. How did you experience that tournament?

KM: It’s something I take pride in, playing for my country and showcasing my talent on a big stage. South Sudan was the youngest country to participate in the tournament, and me being the youngest player there was unbelievable.

The BTO: What lessons did you learn while you were with South Sudan at the World Cup?

KM: Basketball at that level is different. As a player, you have to adjust to the situation. Luckily, my team has professionals who have played for many years. That helped me a lot. To learn from the professionals and how they work. They pushed me during practices and kept me on the right path. It was amazing.

Khaman Maluach in action at Basketball Without Borders — **Khaman Maluach was the boys MVP of BWB Africa 2023. Picture: The BTO**

The BTO: South Sudan finished 17th at the tournament and qualified for next year’s Olympic Games in Paris. What did that moment mean to South Sudan and yourselves as players?

KM: It’s something big and not for ourselves only… It’s for South Sudan as well. I think our achievements on the basketball court have brought our people together. We have been at war for the past couple of years. That was the image the world had of us. Through basketball and what we have done, the world has a different view.

The BTO: Can you talk about Luol Deng’s impact on basketball in South Sudan?

KM: Without him (Luol), this would not be happening. Luol Deng had the dream that something this big could happen for South Sudan. It has changed the lives of people. So what he has done is a big deal.

The BTO: Where do you see yourself in five to 10 years?

KM: I hope to become a professional basketball player. Hopefully, I can be a part of a championship team. That is the vision I have for myself.

The BTO: When you look at your achievements so far, what would you say to the Khaman, who picked up a basketball as a 13-year-old?

KM: I would say he believed in himself. And that impossible is nothing. Hard work always pays off, and the results will always show.

Maluach reflects on his mercurial 2023 basketball journey Read More »

Can African teams rise on the global stage?

Leave a Comment

JAPAN, Indonesia and the Philippines are the centres of basketball worldwide. All three nations have partnered to co-host the game’s biggest showpiece, the FIBA World Cup (25 August – 10 September).

The Big Tip Off previews the prospects of African teams, Angola, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt and South Sudan at the tournament.

Angola

Angola are the most successful team at the continental level, with 11 AfroBasket titles and are appearing at their ninth World Cup. A country that has produced the golden generation of Joaquim Gomes, Eduardo Mingas, Olimpio Cipriano, and Carlos Morais. Now the baton has been passed on.

A new era of players has come through the ranks and have much to live up to. Players like Bruno Fernando, Gerson Lukeny, Childe Dundao and Dimitri Maconda have been the flag bearers for the Southern African nation.

They will be in a tough Group A with the Dominican Republic led by Minnesota Timberwolves big man Karl Anthony Towns. Host nation, the Philipines, who have NBA 2022 sixth man of the year Jordan Clarkson (Utah Jazz) and Italy, who have had success at the international level, complete the group.

Angola will have memories of Italy and the Philippines, their group opponents from the 2019 World Cup. And they will hope to improve on their 1-2 record from that tournament.

Gerson Goncalves in action for Angola — **Gerson Goncalves has been instrumental in leading Angola’s new generation. Picture: The BTO**

Their Achilles heel at big tournaments has always been their lack of height, which could impact their chances of progress at this World Cup.

This new generation of Angolan players will want prove they are ready take the mantle of the old guard.

Cape Verde

Cape Verde, who surprised the world, are the smallest nation to compete at the FIBA World Cup, but they will no doubt try to make giant strides.

Despite being new to this level of competition, Cape Verde, 2021 AfroBasket semi-finalists, have experienced players in their ranks.

Players like Walter Tavares, Betinho Gomes, brother Joel and Ivan Almeida have international experience at the club level.

Walter Tavares warming up for Cape Verde — **Walter Tavares was a key factor Cape Verde’s qualification for the FIBA World Cup. Picture: The BTO**

Their (Cape Verde) Group F also has World Cup debutants Georgia and two countries who are no strangers to this stage in Slovakia and Venezuela. The Cape Verdeans will open against Georgian team with EuroBasket experience and will feel they have nothing to lose.

It will not be an easy ride against their experienced opponents, but Cape Verde, could have the element of surprise on their side.

Cote d’Ivoire

After a forgettable 2019 tournament, where they failed to win a game, the Elephants are looking to exorcise the demons.

The West Africans will lean on the experience of veterans Solo Diabate, a two-time Basketball Africa League winner, and Charles Abouo. The duo are making their third appearance at the World Cup.

Cote d’Ivoire, who are making their fifth appearance, have to fight tooth and nail to get out of Group G. Against world champions Spain, boasting the likes of Juancho and Wily Hernangomez, the Ivorians will give their all.

Charles Abouo in action for Cote D'Ivoire — **Charles Abouo will play in his third FIBA World Cup for Cote D’Ivoire.**

Iran is the next fixture, and the two-time African champions might feel they are at par against the Asian nation.

South American juggernaut Brazil will pack just as good a punch as Spain.

Of all the African teams, Cote d’Ivoire are in the hardest group. They will need to dig within themselves to have a fighting chance.

Egypt

The Pharaohs are making a return to the tournament after a nine-year absence. They have not had much international success and will use this World Cup to try re-establish Egypt as a force in the game.

For this World Cup, five-time African champions Egypt have assembled one of the most talented teams. From the scoring ability of Ehab Amin to the shot-blocking and rebounding prowess of centre Anas Mahmoud, the North Africans have a balanced team.

Anas Mahmoud will step up for Egypt at the FIBA World Cup — **Big man Anas Mahmoud will provide shot blocking and rebounding for Egypt. Picture FIBA**

Players like Omar Araby, Patrick Gardner, Amr El Gendy and Omar Hussein will give the Egyptians positional depth.

Egypt are in Group D with Mexico, Montenegro and European giants Lithuania.

The Pharaohs have a tough opener against Lithuania. Against Montenegro and Mexico, they (Egypt) will fancy their chances to come out of the group.

South Sudan

The South Sudanese were the continent’s best team during the World Cup qualifiers with an 11-1 record. Their record on the road to Asia speaks to their leap since becoming internationally recognised by FIBA in 2013.

On their debut international tournament, the 2021 AfroBasket, The Bright Stars finished in the quarter-finals. Their well-earned trip to the World Cup is a testament to the quality of the team.

In Basketball Africa League champion and MVP Nuni Omot, South Sudan have a two-way threat. His ability to defend and score is a plus for the World Cup debutants.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by FIBA Basketball World Cup (@fibawc)

Kuany Kuany, Wenyen Gabriel, and Carlik Jones will give the South Sudanese more scoring and defensive options.

South Sudan will be in an interesting Group B, alongside Serbia, China and Puerto Rico.

South Sudan does have the talent at their disposal to face the best in the world. Their opening game against Puerto Rico and their close-out game versus Serbia will test their level of competitiveness.

Can African teams rise on the global stage? Read More »

Almeida, Cape Verde dream big ahead of World Cup

Leave a Comment

ONE of sports most iconic figures and a master of famous one liners, Muhammed Ali, once stated, “If your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough”.

Ali’s powerful words have found resonance with Cape Verde’s shooting guard Joel Almeida. Why? You might ask. Almeida and his teammates wrote themselves into history when they achieved the unimaginable in international basketball. And in a couple of days, they will foray into uncharted waters.

Their destination is the FIBA World Cup, co-hosted by Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines, commencing in a couple of days (25 August – 10 September).

Ahead of his country’s World Cup debut, Almeida reflected on a journey peppered with the themes of self-actualisation, nostalgia and a healthy dose of a fear of the unknown.

Understanding the process

For Almeida, being a part of this epic narrative in Cape Verde’s basketball history is a fulfilment of a dream.

The 36-year-old explained to The Big Tip Off that, as a youngster playing in a World Cup is something he imagined, but initially felt out of reach.

“When you are a young player, you have many dreams. You dream of hitting that buzzer-beater that wins the game. You dream of celebrating winning a championship or being at a World Cup or an Olympics,” said Almeida, who was in the United States with the national team. “Every player has those dreams, but when you are young, it’s something that’s so far away. When you start playing and dedicating yourself, the road gets shorter.

“When you start achieving those successes, like winning a championship, it clicks that this is the process you go through to achieve certain goals. I know getting to the destination (World Cup) is the goal, but there is a lot of road to travel through to get there.”

Joel Almeida chasing big dreams — **Joel Almeida believes Cape Verde should have bigger dreams at the World Cup. Picture: The BTO**

One of the senior leaders in the team, Almeida along with giant star centre Walter Tavares, younger brother Ivan and Betinho Gomes were part of the veteran core that helped Cape Verde achieve history. Almeida emphasized the importance of the elder statesmen in the team and the guidance they offer.

“I always say basketball is a maturity sport. It (qualification for World Cup) came at the right time because of the growth of every player and experience we accumulated over the years,” said Almeida. Having that veteran experience helped tremendously. Also the injection of young players helped us move forward because we have to look to the future.

“That combination of youth and experience helped us get to where we are. Basketball is a high IQ game, with the veteran leadership we were able to overcome adversity. It also sets you up for success.”

Sharing blood and sweat with Ivan

While Almeida has gushed over qualifying for the World Cup, what has made the journey even more enjoyable, is that he got to share the moment with his younger brother, Ivan.

The sibling duo joined at the hip from their first senior international competition in 2009 (AfroBasket), played in the decisive victory over Cote d’Ivoire at the final window of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers in February (in Angola).

“Having that moment with your brother is the best feeling in the world. Even if he didn’t play basketball and he was there, it would have been the best feeling,” said Almeida. “But having your brother on the team and sharing that moment with him… it’s just different. It’s a special feeling.

“Knowing that we achieved a dream together and for Cape Verde. Sharing that moment is something that will remain forever in my memory.”

Almeida’s full circle moment

One of the stops before the start of the tournament for Cape Verde was the US. It is also where the former Brockport State player refined his game, and being there has a sentimental bearing.

“It’s emotional because it’s a full circle moment. When I left the States after playing college basketball, I never thought I would come back and be preparing for the World Cup here,” said Almeida. “It touches me deeply because this is where everything started. It’s a beautiful feeling.

“Also, one the largest communities from the Cape Verde diaspora is based here. So feeling their warmth and energy makes us feel at home.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Joel Almeida (@jfalmeida85)

Cape Verde to the world

When the week begins, the temporary home comforts in the US will be a thing of the past. Cape Verde, semi-finalists at the 2021 AfroBasket, will be in Asia. The gaze of the world will focus on them, eager to see what they are capable of.

In Group F, their opponents, Georgia, Venezuela and Slovenia, also lie in wait, ready to size up the islanders, representing 600 000 hopeful people.

It is a challenge Almeida accepts and his knowledge of their first opponents, Georgia could be a plus for his team. The Eastern Europeans will have the likes of NBA players Goga Bitadze (Orlando Magic) and Sandro Mamukelashvili (San Antonio Spurs) in their arsenal.

“I played in Georgia for two seasons. I am familiar with their players. A lot of the players play in the local league. They are a skilled and physical team, but we must go out there and execute our game plan. We have to show we deserve to be on this stage by taking care of business,” said Almeida, a two-time Georgian Cup winner with Kutaisi.

He also shared his thoughts about Cape Verde’s remaining games against Venezuela and Slovenia, who will have the phenomenal Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks.

“Venezuela is a great South American team. They are here because they are one of the best teams in their region. Slovenia will also offer a good match up. Everything will go down to execution and staying competitive for 40 minutes,” said Almeida.

“We respect these teams (Georgia, Venezuela and Georgia). But we also want to make our history. We are hungry for more. That is the attitude we have and it will help us when the tournament starts.”

Joel Almeida and Ivan Almeida World Cup — **Joel Almeida embraces his younger brother, Ivan, after qualifying for the World Cup.**

Setting the bar high

Judging from Almeida’s talk, Cape Verde wants to do more than fulfill a desire to participate in the World Cup. He believes they should have bigger dreams at this stage.

“I always set high standards in everything I do. You have to aim for the stars and hope to land on the moon. And those goals have to scare you. If those objectives scare you, then I believe mentally, you will be prepared to achieve those higher goals,” Almeida said. “That is how we have to approach the tournament. We have to expect the best from ourselves.”

Only those in the inner sanctum of Cape Verde know what it took to reach the epitome of basketball competition. And, if Almeida and the islanders want to go to infinity and beyond, it’s because they know how far wild ambition can get you.

Almeida, Cape Verde dream big ahead of World Cup Read More »