ANG - Cipriano's high note ahead of African Clubs Cup
LUANDA (African Clubs Cup/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Olimpio Cipriano's reputation as a prolific scorer seems to be far from ending after he was named MVP of Vitorino Cunha Cup, a domestic tournament in his native Angola. The reward comes days before Cipriano and his Recreativo do Libolo club travel to Lusaka, Zambia, where they will battle for the top ...
LUANDA (African Clubs Cup/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Olimpio Cipriano's reputation as a prolific scorer seems to be far from ending after he was named MVP of Vitorino Cunha Cup, a domestic tournament in his native Angola.
The reward comes days before Cipriano and his Recreativo do Libolo club travel to Lusaka, Zambia, where they will battle for the top two places on offer of zone 6 for the African Clubs Cup to be held later this year.
At AfroBasket 2013 in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, Cipriano was Angola's leading three-point threat, shooting 37 percent from beyond the arc.
On Thursday, the 31-year-old led Libolo to an 86-75 win over Inter Clube de Luanda to claim the Vitorino Cunha Cup for the first time in the club's history.
The African Clubs Cup, a leading international tournament, is due to take place at the National Sports Development Centre in Lusaka, Zambia from 28 October to 2 November.
The field will consist of: Primeiro D'Agosto, Libolo and Petro de Luanda (Angola); Matero Magic and UNZA Pacers (Zambia); JBC and Cameo BB (Zimbabwe); Ferroviaro da Beira (Mozambique).
The African Clubs Cup qualifier will mark the return of 10 of the 12 Angolan internationals to the African scene since they won their 11th African Championship title back in August.
Only Carlos Morais and Milton Barros will not compete in Lusaka.
Morais is currently trying his fortunes in the NBA pre-season with the Toronto Raptors while Barros' team Inter Clube de Luanda missed out on qualification to the tournament.
The other 10 Angolan internationals to compete in Lusaka include Armando Costa, Reggie Moore, Joaquim Gomes, Hermenegildo Santos, Felizardo Ambrosio, Carlos Almeida, Valdelicio Joaquim, Cipriano, Leonel Paulo and Eduardo Mingas. They are divided between the three Angolan clubs that are Primeiro D’Agosto, Recreativo do Libolo and Petro de Luanda.
As winners of AfroBasket 2013, Angola - along with runners-up Egypt and third-place Senegal - will represent Africa at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.
FIBA