ANG – A giant making waves in the Pacific

HONOLULU (NCAA/Afrobasket) - Angola have been the dominant force in African basketball since 1989, when the national team won the first of its 10 Afrobasket gold medals.

Even in the two Afrobaskets since when they did not capture the title, Angola still reached the podium.

They claimed bronze in 1997, behind Senegal (gold) and Nigeria (silver), and in 2011 Angola lost to Tunisia in the championship game.

To remain a force, the Angolans will be counting on all of their players at home, and abroad.

One player sure to feature in the national team in the big events to come is Valdélicio 'Vander' Joaquim, a 2.09m center who just joined elite company at the University of Hawaii.

Joaquim, who played for Angola at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) last year, became just the 15th Rainbow Warrior to score 1,000 career points.

He achieved the milestone in Hawaii's 60-52 victory over Pacific on the 18th of January.

Hawaii coach Gib Arnold gushed with praises for a player that has been a hard-working student of the game.

"I'm so pleased with that young man,” Arnold said.

“I just absolutely love that kid and I'm so glad to see him get that 1,000th point. That's a big deal.

“When you are one of 15, with so many great players to have played here over the many, many years, and he is one of 15, I couldn't be any prouder.

“Give Vander credit for working hard, getting better, listening, being coachable - I'm just so happy for him.”

Eighteen games into the season and Joaquim, who hails from Luanda, was averaging 14.5 points and 8.7 rebounds.

He’ll always remember the time he joined the 1,000-point club.

"It's a great feeling as an athlete," he said.

"I've just had some good teammates.

"I'll never forget this night."

FIBA