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ANG – Gomes: `Angola not just making up the numbers’



LUANDA (Olympic Games) – Angola’s Joaquim Gomes firmly believes that his national team is better than the one that played in Japan two years ago and warned their future Olympic opponents not to underestimate the African nation.



On Saturday, Angola were drawn in Group B of the Beijing Games along with the United States, Spain and hosts China.



The 27-year-old said to FIBA.com: “Most teams already know our potential and we will step onto the court to compete, whatever the team will be. We are eager to do better than we did at the last World Championship.”



Ninth placed two years ago in Japan, the nine-time African champions will return to Asia in the summer with a clear aim.



“We are not going to Beijing to make up the numbers,” Gomes said. “This theory does not exist in our minds anymore.”



Despite the power forward’s conviction, Gomes, also known as “Kikas Gomes” in Angola circles, acknowledges it will not be an easy task:



“It will be extremely difficult for us,” he said.



“Spain and the US are, in my opinion, candidates to win this competition. China, as hosts, will cause trouble to any team because they will try to bring pleasure to their fans, there.”



With appearances at the Athens Games and FIBA World Championship in Japan, Gomes is one of most experienced members of the Angola team, which claimed the ninth African title last summer in Angolan capital, Luanda.



His experience in previous events may be crucial for the youngsters who are being incorporated into the squad:



“Olympic Games are a very enjoyable competition, but my experience says that it is also the most difficult event,” Gomes said.



Joaquim Gomes was Most Valuable Player of the 2007 FIBA Africa Championship.



He led Angola in Japan with an average of 15 points and eight rebounds per contest.

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