14 July 2008
CAMEROON : Croatia win as Cameroon play only for pride
Marko Tomas exploded for 22 points and Croatia held off a very determined Cameroon in their opening game at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
The Croatians, one of the favourites to claim a spot for the Beijing Games, prevailed 93-79.
The fact that the game was played at all was a minor miracle, though.
Cameroon's players only decided at the last minute to go ahead with the game as they have yet to receive money after taking part in last year's FIBA Africa Championship.
"We have faced a lot of adversity, from trying to prepare to having the guys receive what they were promised - the money they deserve - after playing at the AfroBasket in Angola," Cameroon coach Lazare Adingono said to FIBA.
"They were promised something, and they haven't received it. They haven't received anything. They had elected not to play today unless something was done, and up to the last minute, nothing had been done.
"They came together, talked about it and said if the government and federation weren't willing to help them in any way, they decided they would do it for the country and their families.
"It's a tribute to them. They wanted to show to the entire world that Cameroon can be a force for years to come, not just in Africa, but the whole world. They wanted to show what this could have been if everything could have been in place."
Judging from the awesome athleticism and the never-give-up attitude, Cameroon could be a major player on the international stage.
They out-rebounded Croatia 39-26 but Jasmin Repesa's team killed them in transition, getting 21 fast-break points to just five for the Africans.
Croatia went in front by as many as 22 points, but Adingono's team never quit and chipped away at the deficit.
They went on a 7-0 run to close the gap to 62-53 but Croatia were never under serious threat.
Croatia were eight of 16 from three-point range, with Tomas three of four from the arc.
"Okay, I'm happy, but I need to continue to play like this," Tomas said.
The Croatians, one of the favourites to claim a spot for the Beijing Games, prevailed 93-79.
The fact that the game was played at all was a minor miracle, though.
Cameroon's players only decided at the last minute to go ahead with the game as they have yet to receive money after taking part in last year's FIBA Africa Championship.
"We have faced a lot of adversity, from trying to prepare to having the guys receive what they were promised - the money they deserve - after playing at the AfroBasket in Angola," Cameroon coach Lazare Adingono said to FIBA.
"They were promised something, and they haven't received it. They haven't received anything. They had elected not to play today unless something was done, and up to the last minute, nothing had been done.
"They came together, talked about it and said if the government and federation weren't willing to help them in any way, they decided they would do it for the country and their families.
"It's a tribute to them. They wanted to show to the entire world that Cameroon can be a force for years to come, not just in Africa, but the whole world. They wanted to show what this could have been if everything could have been in place."
Judging from the awesome athleticism and the never-give-up attitude, Cameroon could be a major player on the international stage.
They out-rebounded Croatia 39-26 but Jasmin Repesa's team killed them in transition, getting 21 fast-break points to just five for the Africans.
Croatia went in front by as many as 22 points, but Adingono's team never quit and chipped away at the deficit.
They went on a 7-0 run to close the gap to 62-53 but Croatia were never under serious threat.
Croatia were eight of 16 from three-point range, with Tomas three of four from the arc.
"Okay, I'm happy, but I need to continue to play like this," Tomas said.
# posted by afrbk : 22:28
