ANG - Vander: from college to the pros with an eye on Spain 2014

LUANDA (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Angola's Valdelicio 'Vander' Joaquim has defined the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup as one the top priorities of his career.

He is among the frontrunners to earn a place on the national team which will play in Gran Canaria's Group D along with Australia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Mexico and Korea.

The 2.08 power forward has played for his country at both youth and senior levels and feels that he has matured enough in the past few months to make an impact for Angola at Spain 2014.

"I can do more for the national team," Joaquim told FIBA.com when asked to comment on his modest previous contributions for Angola.

He averaged 2.0 points and 1.8 rebound per game as Angola won their 11th continental trophy at AfroBasket 2013 in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, but believes he will be up to the task if national team coach Paulo Macedo calls on him.

Angola will open their Group D campaign against Korea on 30 August, before taking on Lithuania the next day.

"I believe we can advance to the next round, especially because we have players with a lot of international tournaments experience," said the 24-year-old.

"Lithuania is the toughest opponent in our group. I do not know much about Mexico."

Following a short-lived summer league with the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards last year, the former University of Hawaii standout made his professional debut with Petro de Luanda of the BAI-Basket, Angola's national league.

His unsuccessful tenure with both NBA teams was down to limited time.

"One day with the Nets and the other with the Wizards was not time enough to show my real capabilities," he said.

"I kept my head held high and I am hoping to play in top leagues around the world. The Angolan league is not my final destination yet."

'Vander' - as he is known in basketball circles - is doing really well with the Luanda-based club, averaging 16 points and 8 rebounds per game.

Last week, he was crucial in helping Petro beating archrivals Primeiro d'Agosto in the Angolan Cup Final.

Until the national team duties begin in June, Vander is focused on Petro's BAI Basket Final Four campaign, which began on Thursday and is due to last through to mid-May.

Petro opened the decisive moment of the BAI-Basket season with a 106-67 win over Inter Clube de Luanda.

"We are a young group of players at Petro with a lot of ambition. Hopefully we can win the national league," said Vander.

For years Angola has paid the price for displaying a short line-up against taller and heavier opposition in the world stage tournament.

So the likes of Vander and Yanick Moreira - who both stand over 2.08m in height - are seen as the fresh air for the African champions.

Moreira is currently in the college ranks with Southern Methodist University and is yet to represent his country at senior level.

Vander has become a regular in the past few years but wants to achieve a lot more individually and for the team.

"I'll work very hard to deserve a place in the national team. I can offer my low post game and discipline," he said.

"As the best team in Africa, we have to be more ambitious, compete against the best in the world, and fight to improve our rankings. We can do it."

FIBA