Morais aims to instil fighting mentality in youthful Angola

BELGRADE (2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments) - Angola opted for a generational change this year so the Afrobasket 2015 runners-up have arrived in Belgrade for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) excited by a world of new possibilities up ahead but also with few certainties right now.

But if there is one thing the Angola fans and coaching staff are certain of in this tournament, is that shooting guard Carlos Morais will step up and produce a string of inspiring performances as he has been doing since his debut with the senior national team, more than a decade previously.

"Play hard, play hard and play hard. We are a young team with nothing to lose here. We have to play smart and eat the floor." - Morais

The 30-year-old captain of Angola talked to FIBA.com on the eve of his team's debut in the tournament.

FIBA.com: Angola is the youngest team in this tournament and you are not only a star player but also the captain and a veteran, so what other responsibilities you must assume if you are to lead them to Rio?
Morais: I feel like I can help the young guys understand what it takes to go to the next level. I have a lot of experience and I think I can pass some to them. We're here to compete, we understand that's it's hard to reach our goal, but it is possible. We have no pressure, so we will compete to reach Rio.

FIBA.com: What do you think of your opponents in Group A, Puerto Rico and Serbia, and what vulnerabilities they have that you want to take advantage of?
Morais: I know Serbia better, they are the home team here and also a very hard to beat team. Last time we played them we lost by 50 points. We understand the game against them will be very tough but we will fight until the end. We play with no pressure, we will see what happens.

FIBA.com: If you could choose one virtue that you would like this young team to showcase in Belgrade, one thing to convince you these youngsters are on the right track, what would it be?
Morais: Play hard, play hard and play hard. We are a young team with nothing to lose here. We have to play smart and eat the floor. At the end of the day we will see how if we can win or not.

FIBA.com: In the event you manage to qualify to Rio, you will be 30 when you step out at your second Olympic Games, as the captain of Angola. You were 22 years old and one of the youngest guys on the team the first time around, at Beijing 2008. Do you think you would appreciate the Olympic experience now more or less than the first time?
Morais: Listen, if I could go back in time but also keep knowing what I know now, I would go back to my 20s, no question about it (he laughs). But I also feel good as one of the older guys on the team, because I get the opportunity to share with the young guys some of these things I have done over the years. I am looking forward to pass on what I have learned from my coaches and help the young guys become better players and better men.

FIBA