Canada's Pangos making a big splash in rookie campaign

LAS PALMAS (2016 Rio Olympics) - A lot of young players would like to be in the position that Kevin Pangos finds himself in.

Living in Spain's Canary Islands and playing basketball for a living, what could be better?

There's good weather, beautiful surroundings and competitive basketball.

Yes, Pangos, a 22-year-old Canadian point guard, is in a very good situation in his first year out of Gonzaga, where he spent four years playing American college basketball with the Zags.

He and his Herbalife Gran Canaria teammates are winning a lot of games, although on Sunday night, Valencia beat them, 86-61.

One big defeat has not spoiled anything for Pangos.

"I love it so far," he said to FIBA.com of his move to Europe.

"The island is amazing.

"The competition is great."

Pangos is turning the page after four years of an excellent university experience at Gonzaga in Spokane, Washington.

At the end of every one of his seasons, Pangos was a First-Team All West Coast Conference selection following his senior campaign, he was the WCC Player of the Year.

Pangos was Third Team All-America after his final year as well.

The experience with the Zags is something he will always treasure.

"That was a home away from home, or even home for me," he said.

"I have a lot of friends there, stay in touch.

"I watch them all the time, stay close to the staff and the players. It's close to my heart."

Pangos knows he has a terrific opportunity this season.

One of the great coaches in Spanish basketball history, the country's 2008 Olympic boss Aito Garcia, has recognized that Pangos is both talented and determined.

He has played the Ontario native about 26 minutes per game in the Liga Endesa, and in the Eurocup.

In the continental competition, Pangos has been on a tear, making 13 of his last 23 shots from behind the arc.

He is shooting a blistering 54.8 percent (17 of 31) from long range in the Eurocup on the season while averaging 14.1 points and 5.4 assists.

After Gran Canaria's last game, a 92-89 defeat at MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg in Germany in which he scored 31 points, Pangos was named as the competition's Player of the Week.

He connected on five of his eight attempts from long range in that win.

He also had six assists and finished with a sky high performance index rating of 38.

The next day, he received recognition back home.

The 1.89m playmaker is burying a very respectable 36 percent (16 of 45) of his three-point attempts in the Liga Endesa and averaging 12 points per game.

"I just want to keep getting better every day," he said.

"This is my first year as pro so, I know I have a lot to learn.

"I'm just trying to learn as much as I can from my coaches and my teammates, get better and win games in the meantime."

The name Pangos was already known in Europe before this season

He had travelled to the continent with Canada's youth teams and played at the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship in Germany and the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship in Latvia.

Pangos will be hoping that he has a chance to make his senior national team roster soon.

Canada will feature at one of next year's FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQTs).

It will be a tough task to make Canada's squad because the country has a big talent pool to draw from.

"I would love to play for the national team if I could," he said.

"It's something that I dreamt about, trying to make an Olympics.

"It's going to be competitive for sure at every position, and point guard is a big one.

"So I am just going to work hard and try to make it."

Canada's senior squad is just a few months removed from a third-place finish at the FIBA Americas Championship.

The team almost clinched a spot in the Rio de Janeiro Games.

They needed a win against Venezuela in the Semi-Finals but lost in the last seconds, 79-78.

Venezuela and Argentina, the other side to reach the Final, took the automatic berths to Rio.

Canada rebounded with a last-second victory over Mexico to reach the podium.

Canada's prospects in the short and long term are bright.

"I think we're a little young and inexperienced but we definitely have the pieces," Pangos said.

"We just have to work hard, try to work together, make that next step and make a statement to the world.

"The team had a tough situation last summer.

"They weren't able to qualify, but I think this summer we're going to make a strong push and try to make the Olympics."

Pangos is a long way from North America but from November of 2017, he could start making some trips back to Canada during the seasons.

Through FIBA's new system of competition, Canada's men's team will have important games on home soil.

Over a four-year cycle from 2017 through 2021, national teams will play regular home and away games to qualify for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the 2021 FIBA Continental Cups.

"In Canada, basketball is getting a lot more recognition," Pangos said.

"It's a more popular sport in the country.

"For us to play at home in front of our fan base and keep building the basketball brand, I think that's huge for us."

FIBA