PUR - Puerto Rico to face Germany and Slovenia in a series of warm up games

SAN JUAN - The Puerto Rican National team will be played a series of warm up games against Germany and Slovenia prior to the FIBA World Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

The President of the Puerto Rican Basketball Federation, Hector Reyes, informed that the games will be played from July 8-11 in Germany.

Dirk Nowitzki is the main player on the German team while Radoslav Nesterovic leads Slovenia along with Jaka Lakovic.

After playing both European teams the Puerto Rican team will head for Greece for the FIBA World Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament to be played from July 14-20 in Athens where they will look for three berths in the Olympics.

"I understand that the coaches will take advantage of these games. This is good because we will play at a high level and we will know the adjustments that we have to make prior to the tournament", said Reyes.

Puerto Rico will also play this Summer at the Centrobasket Tournament from July 25-29, which is a qualifier for the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey

IRI - Kamrani scores 36 as Mahram shoot down UAE

TEHRAN (Dubai Int'l Tournament) - Mehdi Kamrani poured in 36 points and Tony Madison added 17 Saturday as Mahram thrashed UAE 105-75 on the second day of 19th Dubai International Tournament. The defending champions finished the first quarter 34-17 and kept their hoop closed for 8:05 in the second quarter. The sauce-makers enjoyed a 61-29 half-time lead and 84-52 advantage at the end of the third quarter. Kamrani was awarded as the most valuable player at the end of the game.

On the same day, Hamed Afagh scored 26 points as Saba Battery took a 22-16 lead against their arch-rival, Sporting of Lebanon in the first period. But, the pressures and well-organized offense from the Asian Champions did not last long and Sporting finished the half-time 37-37. Ahead by only a 58-50 third-quarter margin, Sporting won the game as they edged Saba 82-77.

The results of Day 1, 2, and 3 are as follows:

Friday 18/1:

Al Jalaa (Syria) - Zain (Jordan) 83-59

UAE - Sagesse (Lebanon) 83-80

Saturday 19/1:

UAE - Mahram (Iran) 105-75

Al Ittihad (Syria) - Jazeira (Egypt) 75-80

Sporting (Lebanon) - Saba (Iran) 82-77

UAE - Al Jalaa (Syria) 80-98

Sunday 20/1:

Mahram (Iran)- Jazeira (Egypt) 95-90

Zain (Jordan) - Sporting (Lebanon) 105-90

Sagesse (Lebanon) - Al Ittihad (Syria) 87-78

Houman Bagheri

FIBA official correspondent

SCO - Scotland Basketball's Next Big Thing

EDINBURGH (NCAA Women) - One young Scottish woman has her sights set on playing basketball at the 2012 London Olympics and is receiving the support she needs to get there.

basketballscotland are delighted to announce Mairi Buchan, a 6'2 tall seventeen year old player from Falkirk Fury, as the first player selected to the new 2012 Potential Programme.

Following on from the success of Scotland's Robert Archibald playing for Great Britain last summer, Buchan has taken a major step forward by announcing her intention to attend a Division 1 University in the United States.

After a recent visit to the US, Buchan chose Old Dominion University (ODU).

Buchan will have to wait until the Spring signing period in late April before she can sign her scholarship agreement, but when she does, she will become the first Scottish female player to attend a Top 25 Division 1 university in the US.

The ODU Lady Monarch's, led by Head Coach Wendy Larry, have won an astonishing sixteen conference titles in a row.

Buchan was shown around the Lady Monarch's impressive home court, one of the best college venues in America, and watched the team practice before sitting down to view the team take on number 19 ranked Michigan State. Despite the Spartans having the NCAA's tallest female player in 6'9 Alyssa De Haan, Buchan was very impressed when Coach Larry and the Lady Monarchs pulled off another victory.

Buchan spent time with the team and academic advisors, as well as the University President and Athletic Director before heading home after a whirlwind four days.

After speaking with her family, Buchan decided the Lady Monarchs and ODU is where she sees herself for the next four years.

Buchan had this to say about her choice of Old Dominion,

"It's the right fit. The basketball is such a fantastic programme to be a part of, but it is also a great school where I can continue my education. The coaching staff are first class and I really liked the girls on the team so I am very excited to pull on the Lady Monarchs uniform next season.

"Donna Finnie, 2012 Potential Programme Coordinator, commented, "Mairi is a role model for any girl out there with aspirations to play at the highest level available to them. She will play alongside some great athletes over the next four years, and this decision will assist in her goal of making the GB senior team. Coach Larry and her staff are an unbelievable group who will help Mairi develop her game to the next level. Old Dominion is a top university that give's their athletes' fantastic support."

This summer Buchan will represent Scotland in the Under 18 European B Division Championships in Macedonia and hopefully star in the GB U20 programme when they travel to Poland.

basketballscotland launched the new 2012 Potential Programme to identify and support Scottish players with the potential to represent Great Britain.

Buchan said, "I am so excited to be supported by this new programme. Making the next step is going to be tough but it has always been my dream to wear a GB uniform and I am going to do whatever it takes to do that.

Already, the support for my US college process has been great. I wouldn't have known where to start with all the forms and speaking to coaches so it's been so good having someone do all that for me and talk me through it as well as look at my needs analysis to identify my strengths and weaknesses. I feel honoured every time I pull on a Scotland uniform and the GB team would be the icing on the cake."

Ron Wuotila, Performance Manager for Great Britain, commented, "basketballscotland is clearly on the right path with their 2012 Potential Programme. This talented young woman will benefit greatly from the structure that basketballscotland has put in place. British Performance Basketball looks forward to tracking her progress in the coming years"

Buchan's club coach with Falkirk Fury, Jennifer McLaren, said "Mairi is one of the hardest workers, on and off the court, and she has the best attitude - for someone so young she is just so focused on being the best she can be."

Prior to Buchan's US visit, the Lady Monarchs had just returned from the Paradise Jam tournament in the Virgin Islands where they had played number 2 ranked Connecticut and number 4 Stanford losing closely, before beating number 22 Penn State comfortably.

The Lady Monarchs win over Michigan State took them to number 15 in the Division 1 rankings. The team then travelled to take on the Lady Vols of Tennessee and their future Woman's NBA player, Candace Parker.

The 2012 Potential Programme is currently considering several more applications and news on other programme athletes will appear soon.

Basketball Scotland

ESP - Spain drawn with Brazil, Cuba with Belarus in Olympic Qualifier

MADRID (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women) - Spain are hosting the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women this summer in Madrid yet their passage to the Beijing Games will be anything but easy.

That was assured on Monday in the Spanish capital at the draw for the event.

Five places for China will be up for grabs.

Evaristo Perez's Spanish team, which finished runners-up to Russia at the EuroBasket Women last October in Italy, were on Monday put in Group C along with South American giants Brazil and Oceania representatives Fiji.

The Brazilians are historically one of the powerhouses in the world game and they eliminated Spain at the quarter-final stage of the Athens Olympics.

In Group D, the EuroBasket's bronze-medal winners Belarus will take on Cuba, the side that finished second to the United States at the FIBA Americas Championship, along with Chinese Taipei.

The Czech Republic will be pleased with their draw after landing in Group B with Angola and Argentina, while in Group A, Latvia will be happy as well after being paired with Senegal and Japan - teams they will be expected to beat.

Latvia lost in the bronze-medal game to Belarus at the EuroBasket while the Czechs finished fifth.

The reason why Spain, Brazil, Belarus and Cuba will be somewhat anxious is because the next stage, the quarter-finals, look extremely difficult.

The format of the tournament places the team that finishes first in Group C against the second-placed team in Group D in one quarter-final, with the second-placed team from Group C against the Group D winners as another quarter showdown.

If, as expected, Brazil and Spain take the top two spots in Group C, their quarter-final opponents are likely to be Belarus or Cuba.

The winners of the the quarter-finals qualify for the Olympics.

The quarter-final losers will drop into a pool of four teams that will play in semi-finals and a final for the one remaining Olympic place.

Quick Facts:

Groups:

Group A: Japan, Latvia, SenegalGroup

B: Angola, Argentina, Czech RepublicGroup

C: Brazil, Fiji, SpainGroup

D: Belarus, Chinese Taipei, Cuba

System of Competition & Schedule:

PRELIMINARY ROUND

9th June 2008

Game A1: Latvia v SenegalGame

B1: Czech Republic v ArgentinaGame

C1: Spain v FijiGame

D1: Chinese Taipei v Cuba

10th June 2008

Game A2: Senegal v JapanGame

B2: Argentina v AngolaGame

C2: Fiji v BrazilGame

D2: Cuba v Belarus

11th June 2008

Game A3: Japan v LatviaGame

B3: Angola v Czech RepublicGame

C3: Brazil v SpainGame

D3: Belarus v Chinese Taipei

The two (2) best placed teams from each group will qualify for the Quarter-Finals.The teams placed third in each group are eliminated and may return home.

12th June 2008

Day Off

QUARTER-FINALS

13th June 2008

Game 13: A1 v B2

Game 14: B1 v A2

Game 15: C1 v D2

Game 16: D1 v C2

The four (4) winners will qualify for the Olympic Games and may return home. The four (4) losers will play in the Semi-Finals.

SEMI-FINALS

14th June 2008

Game 17: Loser 13 v Loser 15

Game 18: Loser 14 v Loser 16

FINAL

15th June 2008

Game 19: Winner 17 v Winner 18

The winner will qualify for the Olympic Games.

IRN - Iran determined to honor Aidin's memory at Olympics

TEHRAN (Olympic Games) - The shock and the sadness that has followed the tragic death of Iran basketball star Aidin Nekkhah Bahrami will not go away.

Aidin, 26, and his fiancée died in a car crash in the early morning hours of December 28, while two other passengers survived.

But Iran coach Rijko Toroman is determined to honor the memory of Aidin by keeping the national team that he had been so proud to represent strong.

Iran will play at the Olympics in August.

"Now, I think there’s two points after this tragedy," Toroman said this week.

“Samad, Aidin’s brother, should continue stronger than before.

"And to make Aidin happy," Toroman said, "the national team should also have a stronger performance in the Olympic games.”

Aidin, whose brother Mohammad Samad Nikkhah Bahrami is the captain of Iran, averaged 13 points per game last year at the FIBA Asia Championship to help the country win the gold medal and qualify for the Beijing Games.

Samad poured in 14 points per contest.

The triumph in Japan at the FIBA Asia Championship was the country's proudest moment on the basketball court.

The grief that has followed Aidin's death has been immense.

Many people participated in his funeral and honored his memory.

Various officials, coaches and athletes attended his funeral escort the day after the accident. A burial ceremony was then held in the graveyard of a Tehran suburb.

All of the games that week in Iran were cancelled. “Aidin was not only an outstanding basketball player, but also a very nice and polite person," Toroman said.

“He was a gentleman."

FAT - First FIBA Arbitral Tribunal case is settled

GENEVA (FIBA Arbitral Tribunal) - The first FIBA Arbitral Tribunal (FAT) case concerned a dispute between the Montenegrin player Mr. Djuro Ostojic represented by FIBA licensed player agent Mr. Miodrag Raznatovic as Claimant, and the Greek Basketball Club PAOK KAE Thessalonica, Greece as Respondent over the player’s salary. As the Respondent chose not to participate in the proceedings the FAT arbitrator had to make use of the default provisions in the FAT Arbitration rules on 16th August 2007.

After the failure by the Greek Basketball club PAOK KAE to honor the FAT Award, and after numerous reminders to honour the FAT Award, FIBA had to entail a sanction on 29th November 2007 to the PAOK KAE club in banning them of the registration of new players, as provided in the FIBA Internal Regulations.

After intervention and help of the Hellenic Basketball Federation the case has been settled and the ban on PAOK KAE club to register new players has been lifted.

For further information on the FAT Arbitral decision, please click here.

The FIBA Arbitral Tribunal (FAT), a true court of arbitration under Swiss law, has been operational for nine months. It has been created by FIBA in order to facilitate and speed up the resolution of disputes between clubs and players/agents. Proceedings before FAT are swift, efficient and inexpensive. Failure to honor a FAT Award may entail sanctions by FIBA to clubs, player agents, or players, as provided in the FIBA Internal Regulations.

SER - Ivkovic takes reins for Serbia

BELGRADE (FIBA) - Serbian coaching great Dusan Ivkovic has returned to his homeland to guide the national team once again.

Ivkovic, who led Yugoslavia to the gold medal at the 1990 FIBA World Championship and to European titles in 1989, '91 and '95, will try to revive a national team that has been struggling.

Yugoslavia captured the gold at the 2002 FIBA World Championship as well under Svetislav Pesic, but have won no medals since.

At the 2007 FIBA Europe Championship under Zoran Slavnic, Serbia crashed out of the competition at the group stage, which meant they failed to even reach the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

At his unveiling on Thursday in Belgrade, Ivkovic spoke of his sadness that the national side will not be at the Beijing Games.

"This is an 'Olympic year', a bit sad for us, known across the world as 'basketball land' since we won't have basketball team in Beijing," Ivkovic said. "But, this is the right moment for a new start. We have new coach, that's me, but we don't have a national team at all.

"Our main goal is to form the team that will represent us at 2012 Olympic games in London. It will be a difficult task, but I believe we have the qualities to qualify for next FIBA Europe championship in Poland, and then to go to both the 2010 World Championship in Turkey and EuroBasket 2011 in Lithuania, where we should a get ticket for London Olympics."

Ivkovic's outstanding coaching career started at Partizan Belgrade (1978-1980), and he then left the country to work at Greek side Aris (1980-1982).

He returned to join Yugoslav teams Sibenka (1982-1987) and Vojvodina (1987-1990) before going abroad again.

Ivkovic, who now serves as the president of the World Association of Basketball Coaches, led four more Greek clubs, including PAOK (1991-1994), Panionios (1994-1996), Olympiacos (1996-1999) and AEK (1999-2001) and then went to Russia where he guided city rivals, CSKA Moscow (2002-2005) and Dynamo Moscow (2005-2007).

During that period he won six national titles, with Partizan, PAOK, Olympiacos and three with CSKA, also got trophies of the Radivoje Korac Cup (1979), EuroLeague (1997), Saporta Cup (2000) and ULEB Cup (2006), and achieved silver medals with Yugoslavia at the Olympics in 1988 and 1996.

Ivkovic knows that international, the game has taken giant strides and the level of competition is much more intense now than it was when he led the side two decades ago.

Also, the breakup of Yugoslavia saw the formation of new national sides. Instead of drawing on the leading players from the former Yugoslavian republics of Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro and Serbia, Ivkovic will now lead Serbia.

"Just don't tell me I'm the coach without a defeat at big international competitions," he said.

"Those were different times. We were in a different country. Everything was different, including basketball."

Ivkovic will miss the Olympics, but he says that "there's no time for sadness and sorrow".

And he says relations between players and the federation can't be strained as has been the case for some in recent years, which led to some choosing not to take part in national team competitions.

"Already on the 18th and 19th of January, I'll be in New York as a member of FIBA commission where we'll talk with representatives of the NBA and NCAA about new rules," Ivkovic said.

"I'll use my trip to the USA to visit our NBA players, also. As we want to re-build our basketball authority, as well as players' belief in the national team, I want to start that process immediately.

"We won't face 'thanks, but no thanks' situations (by some of the players) anymore, as I'll be in contact with them on a daily basis. I believe in our players, and will believe in them. That's very important for a good start."

Bidding process fot the 2014 FIBA World Championship opened

GENEVA (2014 FIBA World Championship) - Following the decision taken by its last Central Board meeting, held on 8th and 9th December 2007 in Chicago (USA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) is happy to announce that the bidding process for the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Men has started today, 10th January 2008.

A considerable number of affiliated National Federations from all five Zones have already expressed their initial interest in bidding for the organization of FIBA's premier championship in 2014.

All National Federations interested in hosting the FIBA 2014 World Championship are required to comply with the following schedule:

Letters of Interest must reach FIBA by 30th April 2008.

All National Federations having correctly submitted their Letter of Interest will be invited to participate in a two-day Workshop, to be held on 26th and 27th June 2008 in Geneva, Switzerland. At the Workshop, the National Federations will be guided through all the steps of the bidding process and through all details necessary to guarantee a successful organization of the FIBA 2014 World Championship.

After having carefully studied the 'FIBA World Championship for Men 2014 Bid and Event Manual' and after having participated in the Workshop, those National Federations having decided to continue with their respective bidding processes will be invited to hand over their candidature files in person, in Geneva, on 5th December 2008 (date to be confirmed), during an official presentation ceremony in presence of the FIBA Central Board.

Between December 2008 and March 2009 the FIBA Evaluation Commission shall examine all presented and duly confirmed bids and shall present a complete report, after conducting visits to all bidding National Federations, to the FIBA Central Board.

The complete bidding process will end in April 2009, when the FIBA Central Board decides the host of the 2014 World Championship for Men.

About FIBA FIBA (www.fiba.com), the world governing body for basketball, is an independent association formed by 213 National Federations of basketball throughout the world. It is recognised as the sole competent authority in basketball by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Its main upcoming events are the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments for Men and Women (to take place in the summer of 2008) that will decide the final berths for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and the FIBA World Championships for Men and Women, held every four years. The 2010 FIBA World Championship will be played in Turkey.

FIBA Ocenia celebrates 40 years

The logo was created to celebrate the 40th year of the organisation, and will be used throughout the zone in 2008.
Copies of the logo will be sent to all federations in the next week with a request to use the logo as they wish during the year.

Oceania was the last zone in the world to organise itself into an operating unit, and was welcomed into the FIBA family in Mexico City in 1968.

Since that day the organisation has represented the interests of its 21 members at the FIBA level, and has provided a pathway for elite teams from the zone to participate at the highest level of international competition.

Prior to the establishment of the OBC, teams from our zone had no true path to international competition. Qualification to the Olympic Games and the World Championships was varied and included competition against Asian teams and sometimes, pre-Olympic tournaments. Australia and New Zealand have been the major recipients of this elite competition pathway created by FIBA's acceptance of Oceania has a world zone.

To ensure the development of the whole zone, OBC initiated a plan to improve playing, coaching, refereeing and administration skills in the Pacific Islands. Visiting experts, mostly from Australia, started conducting clinics throughout the Pacific in the late 60's, often in conjunction with the South Pacific Games.

In 1994 Steve Smith was employed as Al Ramsay's assistant, and was the first paid staff member of OBC. In 1997 Steve took over the role of Secretary General and implemented a program that included the employment of permanent staff members in both development and administration roles.

Over the past 11 years the name OBC has been replaced with FIBA Oceania to reflect the globalisation of the basketball family; the FIBA Oceania Youth Tournament has been introduced and played every 2 years; FIBA Oceania has employed National Development Officers in 7 Pacific Island countries; we have partnered with the Australian Government to provide Australian Youth Ambassadors over a number of years; Australia's women have won the World Championships and basketball is the first or second most popular sport in almost every one of our 21 federations.

The focus of work in 2008 will be in the administration of basketball, for without the people to organise competitions, there would be no games. We hope to make basketball the most played sport in the Pacific by 2010 - so the work continues.

Draw of FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women

GENEVA/MADRID (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women) – The International Basketball Federation (FIBA), in cooperation with the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB), will host the draw for the 2008 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women.

The draw will take place in Spain’s capital next Monday, 14th January 2008, at 12:30 hours, in the ‘Instituto de Formación y Estudios del Gobierno Central de Madrid’, which is located in Calle Almagro, 5.

On 9th December 2007, at its meeting in Chicago, the FIBA Central Board decided that the 2008 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women will be played in Madrid (Spain), in the 10.500-seat Telefónica Arena, from 9th to 15th June 2008.

The following seven teams have already booked their tickets for the Olympic Basketball Tournament for Women that will take place in Beijing (China), from 9th to 23rd August 2008: China (host), Australia (World Champion), Mali (African Champion), USA (Champion of the Americas), Korea (Asian Champion), Russia (European Champion) and New Zealand (Oceanian runner-up).

The remaining five berths for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games will be decided in the 12-team FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women that will feature the following participants: Senegal and Angola (Africa), Cuba, Brazil and Argentina (Americas), Japan and Chinese Taipei (Asia), Spain, Belarus, Latvia and Czech Republic (Europe) and Fiji (Oceania).

During Monday’s draw, the above-mentioned 12 national teams will be divided into four groups of three teams each. Each team will play all the other teams in its own group. The teams placed 1st and 2nd in each group will advance to the Quarter-Finals. The four winners of the Quarter-Finals will qualify for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, while the four losers will play in the Semi-Finals and Finals for the fifth and final remaining Olympic spot.

For further information on the system of competition of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women, please refer to Press Release # 50 or to the following link:

http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/news/presRele/p/newsid/22284/presReleArti.html

All media representatives interested in covering the draw are kindly requested to send an email with their complete details and passport number to the following two emails addresses:

• Marcos Beltrá (FIBA’s Press Director): beltra@fiba.com

• Darío Quesada (LOC’s Press Officer): dquesadal@feb.es

Last but not least, please be informed that on Monday the respective websites of the International Basketball Federation (www.fiba.com) and the Spanish Basketball Federation (www.febtv.com) will provide free coverage so that basketball fans around the world can follow the draw live on the Internet.

CAM - Lazare Adingono at the helm emerging force, Cameroon - Part I

BUFFALO (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) – Cameroon were one of the surprise packages at the FIBA Africa Championship last year, reaching the title game before falling to Angola.

They served notice that Africa has a powerhouse in the making, and coach Lazare Adingono has been charged with the responsibility of making sure this national team reaches its full potential.

Adingono, who is an assistant coach at Canisius in Buffalo, New York, spoke to Julio Chitunda on behalf of FIBA.

Here is Part I of Chitunda's story on the emerging force in international basketball, Cameroon.

If confidence were something you could put your hands on, or see with your own eyes, then confidence would come in the shape of Cameroon head coach Lazare Adingono.

That’s right.

Everything about Adingono exudes confidence after the stunning performance of his national team last year at the FIBA Africa Championship, where Cameroon announced their arrival on the world stage with a terrific run to the final.

They were ultimately beaten for the first time in the tournament by juggernauts Angola.

The performance was good enough to earn a place in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, though, an event that will be staged in Athens in July.

The draw for that tournament comes at the end of January, and rest assured, no team will be taking Cameroon lightly if they come up against them.

"One thing for sure is that every time we take the floor we will compete, expecting to win," Adingono said to FIBA.com.

Only three spots are up for grabs in the men’s tournament at the Olympics and there are 12 teams vying for those places.

In addition to Cameroon, you will find Brazil, Cape Verde, Canada, Croatia, Germany, Greece, Korea, Lebanon, New Zealand, Puerto Rico and Slovenia all contesting for those places.

Cameroon’s team is young and talented, and their players are currently in the United States playing college basketball or in Europe.

Most of the attention is on the young guns honing their skills in the US.

Youth, in fact, applies to all aspects of this national team.

Adingono is only 29-year-old, and he, too, is in America. He is assistant coach at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York.

"I honestly think our future performances at the next Pre-Olympic Games will greatly depend on how much and where we prepare for that special upcoming event," Adingono said.

Could this really be the emerging force in African basketball? If you consider who is in this team, it’s tempting to say yes.

There is talent in abundance, youth and now international experience.

Adingono said: "I believe that, in addition to Angola, which has proven that they can compete with the very best in the world, the African continent is right at the forefront and will be ready to compete on a consistent basis worldwide," he said.

And the preparation will be key.

"I am hopeful that we will have a (good) preparation leading to the next qualifying tournament," he stressed again.

"We, as a nation, will welcome any sponsors that would like to endorse us for that particular event.

"Working in collaboration with the [Cameroon] Basketball Federation and Ministry of Sports, we are looking to put a plan in place.

"I am confident that all the people that support basketball in Cameroon and worldwide will help us every step of the way and provide the finances necessary to prepare and compete on an even playing field."

Adingono is confident, yet he is also very humble.

His national team players, he believes, are getting first-class instruction in the game in America.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the coaches that are doing everything possible to get these young men to be the best that they can be," he said.

"I think the NCAA is the best thing that we have going in developing our young talent to give us a realistic chance to compete and expect to win in such grand stage."

And who are some of these talented players?

The best known lives in Los Angeles, and plays at the same university – UCLA - that gave the basketball world Lew Alcindor, the man who later changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and shone for the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers.

Cameroon’s star at UCLA is forward Mbah A Moute.

"Mbah A Moute is very talented young man and will play a huge role in leading a young group of people to many future competitions starting with the Pre-Olympics next summer in Greece," Adingono said.

LAT -Tare looks ahead to FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women

Riga (Olympics) - Latvia star Ieva Tare is playing a waiting game.

She is dreaming about fulfilling a lifetime's ambition, to play at the Olympics, but there are big hurdles to clear before that happens.

A leading player with TTT Riga in the Euroleague Women, Tara was a vital part of her national team's success last summer in Italy, when they reached the semi-finals of the Eurocup Women before falling to Russia.

It didn't help that injuries to leading players Anete Jekabsone-Zogota and Gunta Basko hurt their chances in that semi-final.

The setback meant that Latvia woluld have to go to the 12-team FIBA-Olympic Qualifying Tournament Women in Madrid instead and the draw for that competition is on Monday.

“It will be a great opportunity for the Latvian national team to qualify,” Tare said.

“But it will be very hard for sure. Only five of the 12 teams go through. And the others will be very good. Most important will be who is in our group.

“But we won't know for a while (the draw is January 14 in Madrid).

”Indeed, it will be a very big ask to reach the Beijing Olympics.

Europe has put a glittering array of teams in the competition, with EuroBasket runners-up Spain, bronze-medal winners Belarus and the Czech Republic also taking part.

Then there are the teams from the FIBA Americas, including Brazil, Argentina and Cuba.

Asia will have Chinese Taipei and Japan, Angola and Senegal will represent Africa and Oceania has Fiji taking part.

Other than the opponents, it will be a tough tournament for Latvia because it follows shortly after the end of TTT Riga’s season, with the games tipping off in Spain on June 9.

“I don't know,” Tare said. “It will come after a very hard season. But everybody else has to do the same, so that won't have much of an effect.

“That's life and we'll deal with it.

”There is little doubt as to what it would mean for Tare, and women’s basketball in Latvia if she and her teammates were to qualify for Beijing.

“That is so big,” she said. “It would be very, very, very great, especially since we're such a small country.”

Cape Verde - National male team: The head coach Emanuel Travoada left for an Angolan club

The Cape Verdian National team is officially without a head coach. Emanuel Travoada, who had dismissed reports that he was leaving, has finally left to Angola to join Desportivo da Huila, in the Angola naitonal championship.

With the Pre-Olympic Qualifying tournament to be held from 17th to 20th July 2008 in Athens (Greece), the Cape Verdian Basketball Federation has been hit with another problem to resolve.

The speculation about the move, began in October, but FIBA-Africa had reported in November, the Emanuel Travoada denied the move.

"It is just speculation. It is true that they contacted me, but I am still Cape Verde coach", he told PA sport.

We have just received the confirmation that Emanuel Travoada will leave to Angola this week to join his new team.

ITA - Lucas III returns to Italy with Benetton Treviso

TREVISO (Lega A) - Benetton Treviso have bolstered their lineup with the signing of John Lucas III, the 25-year-old son of the former NBA star John Lucas.

Lucas III, a point guard who played collegiately for Eddie Sutton at Oklahoma State, spent the 2005-06 campaign with Snaidero Udine.

To make room for the new player, Benetton have released ex-Spain international Rodrigo De La Fuente.

Benetton coach Mahmuti Oktay said: "I watched him (Lucas) play at Udine but once he arrives here, we will see what his condition is and how he will able to adapt to European Basketball.

"He's a player with talent but talent is only one part of the system."

Lucas III had signed a three-year deal with the Houston Rockets in the summer of 2006 and averaged 3.3 point per contest, but he was unable to make his season's roster.

His father, John Harding Lucas II, played college basketball at the University of Maryland and represented the United Sates at the FIBA World Championship in 1974, helping them to capture the bronze medal.

He would go on the number one pick in the 1976 NBA draft and was a star point guard in Houston.

Benetton have struggled all season in Lega A and are fourth from bottom, with 7 win and 11 defeats.

They did manage to claim a 93-71 triumph at Solsonica Rieti on Sunday, with Great Britain international Pops Mensah-Bansu pouring in 15 points and grabbing 9 rebounds.

Montepaschi Siena are running away with the regular season title in Italy.

They are undefeated with 18 victories after Sunday's resounding 82-58 home win over Snaidero Udine.

The teams closest to them are Premiata Montegranaro and Lottomatica Roma, teams with 12-6 records.

Angelico Biella, Air Avellino, Scavolini Pesaro all (11-7), Pierrel Capo d'Orlando (10-7) and Fortitudo Bologna (8-10) round out the top eight.

However, it's a very tight race to the Coppa Italia, which the top eight sides will play in by midseason.

Armani Jeans Milano, Virtus Bologna, Cantu, Rieti and Teramo also each have eight wins, and Snaidero and Benetton - the defending Coppa Italia champions - have seven wins apiece.

ARG - Libertad looks like to add another clubs championship

MAR DEL PLATA (FIBA Americas League) - Libertad Sunchales will be in group D of the FIBA Americas League to be played from January 8-10 in Mar Del Plata. Libertad won the 2007 Liga Sudamericana and the Super 8 of the Argentinean National League.

In the Argentinean National League they lead the second phase with 29 points.

Libertad starts the tournament against the Brazilian champion Universo/BRB and then plays Penarol Mar Del Plata and Liceo Mixto (Chile).

The team from Sunchales is led by guard Sebastian Ginobili and imports Robert Battle and Ryan Carroll. Other key players are Pablo Moldu, Andres Pelussi, Mariano Ceruti and Marcos Saglietti.

The two best per group pass to the quarterfinals where the best in the group D faces Defensor Sporting and the second place team takes on Minas Tenis, winner of group C.

The games will be televised of FOX sports en Espanol and live stats will be available on fibaamericas.com

BRA - Men's Championship National begins this Sunday

Angola Basketball