POR - Gomes hoping to take Spanish step

PRAIA (EuroBasket) - Joao Gomes is hoping a place in Portugal's EuroBasket squad can numb his disappointment at missing out on the NBA.

The 22-year-old, who currently plays for Barreirense, is one of a number of players that national team coach Valentyn Melchynuc is casting his eye over as he decides on his selection for the tournament in Spain, and Gomes is confident of making the cut.

He told PA Sport: "I will have to do my best because I have the same chance of selection as my colleagues.

"But I believe that I can do it."

Gomes is currently in Cape Verde, where he is recuperating after a strenuous season.

He added: "I am just refreshing and preparing myself physically.

"I have been given a training plan for the holidays."

Portugal will face world champions and hosts Spain, along with Croatia and Latvia in Group B of EuroBasket in Seville.

Gomes said: "I do not know a lot about the Latvian and Croatian sides, but I might find out more during the preparations.

"Spain are just Spain, what else is there to say about them?

"They are world champions and they have good players, but as a team we cannot go there thinking that they are superior to us."

Despite missing out on the NBA draft, Gomes still believes he will get the chance to play across the Atlantic.

"It definitely wasn't the end of my dream and I still think that my chance to play there (in the NBA) will come," he said.

"I think that playing in a league such as the Portuguese league did not help me due to a lack of exposure, but all I want to do is just keep playing basketball.

"The media do not bother me at all as I do the thing I most like to do in life."

By Julio Chitunda
FIBA