Biyombo, Mudiay keen to play for DR Congo at FIBA AfroBasket 2017

ORLANDO (FIBA AfroBasket 2017) - Bismack Biyombo's dream of playing for his country looks set to become a reality.

The Orlando Magic power forward has given the Democratic Republic of Congo a thumbs up for FIBA AfroBasket 2017 in August in the neighbouring Congo-Brazzaville. 

Although he never represented his country at FIBA competitions, the 24-year-old continues making his country's name heard across the world.

As if their historic qualification wasn't good enough, the DR Congo could count on the services of Denver Nuggets’ point guard Emmanuel Mudiay.

The Congolese pair is also expected to feature at this year's NBA Africa Game.

Two weeks ago, the Congolese crossed the border to the Central African Republic (CAF) to snatch their first ticket for FIBA Africa’s biggest basketball event in a decade after winning one of their two games.

Although the DR Congo lost 80-76 to CAF in the second game, they closed the two-game series with a 161-144 triumph on aggregate.

Biyombo celebrated the win and is now set to live a childhood dream. He told FIBA.com why the DR Congo's qualification for FIBA AfroBasket 2017 could become a game-changer for basketball in the country.

The Democratic Republic of Congo have just qualified for the FIBA AfroBasket for the first time in 10 years.
That is such a great thing and I am happy for the qualification. We are discussing with the federation about the topic of the insurance because I really want to play, like my friend Emmanuel Mudiay, with the national team. We are having some discussion about the insurance and if we find a way to solve that situation, I would be more than happy to play for the national team this summer. We have been talking a lot with Emmanuel, and we would like to help the national team. I am putting energy on this project as I believe in the project of building a solid national team. We have lot of talented guys and we want to help DR of Congo’s basketball development and have a great and competitive national team.

How are the discussions going with you, Emmanuel Mudiay and the DR Congo's Basketball Federation?
This is going well and we talk very often about it. We are putting energy and time on this project, as we want to help our native country. Emmanuel and I are going to meet up in the month of June to practice together and to keep working on that project of playing for the national team. I am very enthusiastic about the possibility of playing with the national team at the AfroBasket and we are doing everything to make it work. It would be great to help the development of basketball in our country and also play for the national team.

As well as holding summer training camps in DR Congo, Bismack Biyombo has become a regular fixture at the Basketball without Borders (BWB) Africa camps 

Do you think that having two NBA players suiting up for the national team would help basketball grow significantly in DR of Congo?
Yes, definitely. We would help to bring more attention and spotlights to DR Congo's basketball. That also shows that with hard work and ambition, the youth of the country can get inspired by us and maybe make it to the NBA too. That would bring more medias to talk and cover basketball and the country’s basketball would benefit from it. Those are very positive signs and I want to help my favourite sport grow in my country.

What would be the goal at FIBA AfroBasket 2017?
I want to win games and help the team win the most games we can in order to have a good run. I don't play basketball for fun, I play to win. It would be the same with the national team. I am ambitious and I would like to help the team have a great campaign. Emmanuel has the same ambition as mine, he wants to play at his best level and help the national team. We are all excited about this possibility. If we can’t make it to the national team, we still want to help the team in another way. We want to help basketball grow in our country.

You have been talking recently about a personal project of opening an education and sport institute back in Goma. Can you tell us a bit about it?
I like to give back and I am very excited about this project. My partners and I are going to open at the end of the month of July an Academy of education and sports in Goma that will include the first indoor court of the city. The goal is to help the kids of the area and also from the countries around and bring them education and great sports’ infrastructures where they can work on different sports, including basketball. We would like to help the youth of the Democratic Republic of Congo through sports and education. We would like to work with some of those kids and try to make them be basketball players and maybe go to college if that is their goal. 

FIBA