Gomes calls for heart and fight from Angolans

GRAN CANARIA (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Joaquim Gomes has experienced many highs and lows playing for Angola.

But such was his exasperation after his team's second-half capitulation to Mexico you sensed it was one of his deepest troughs.

When asked what the Angolans must do to turn around such a disappointing performance and keep their tournament alive, his pride in the red jersey flowed out.

"That's a very good question," he said as he pondered the answer.

We've got to remember we're still the African champions, we've got to put this game in the past and look to tomorrow - Gomes

For the 33-year-old, such were the breakdowns that allowed Mexico to shoot one open shot after another, a brutally honest video session is required before they face Slovenia on Wednesday.

"We have to talk and see what we did wrong and what we can do better," he said.

But the longer he talked, the more it became obvious he saw the problem as more than just Xs and Os.

"Tomorrow's going to be another day, another fight, and we can't come to the game with the same attitude we had today," he said.

"It's going to be all about heart, all about fight, because we're definitely going to play a very good team tomorrow."

Gomes said the Dragic brothers are "playing their best basketball at the moment" and the Slovenians are "maybe the best team in the group".

But having played at four editions of FIBA's flagship event, two Olympic Games and more Afrobaskets than he can remember, Gomes knows from experience anything is possible, especially if they bring the heart of a lion as they did against Lithuania.

"We've been in this situation before," he said.

"Today's game is past, it's history, and now we want to make history tomorrow, but we've got to respect our opponents."

FIBA