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