MAPUTO (FIBA U18 Women’s African Championship 2018) – Eighteen-year-old Capeverdean Joseana Vaz has been one of the highlights at the FIBA U18 Women’s African Championship in Maputo, Mozambique, as she netted an average of 18.5 points in the first two games.

Even though her numbers couldn’t help the Islanders overcome Mozambique and Egypt, she definitely is a name to look out for in the future.

She stopped by to talk to FIBA.basketball.

For your debuts on the continental scene, you netted 19 points. But they were not enough to clinch your side’s first-ever win?
I may have scored 19 points, but it is all about the team. I wish we could progress as a team. We came here as underdogs and we want to prove that we can play. We need to hold on to the hopes of a win.

Two games into the competition and you are your side's top scorer. Are you looking for an individual distinction in Maputo?
Like I stated earlier, we are here as a team. We are looking to grow together as a team, and this is the only way to showcase Cape Verde’s basketball. But if an individual title comes in, that would be nice too.

Yet, a first-day victory would have been welcome?
Of course! I have to acknowledge that it was not great for us at first. We had Mozambique as our first opponents and we were a bit anxious. You know, nearly everyone here has some history in basketball. We are creating ours.

Your side gets more comfortable now, even under pressure, sometimes taunting your opponents. Does it mean things will still get better?
We came here seeking experience. We use what we acquired in the last game for the next one. And even if we do not win every time we are on the court, every game brings experience to us as individuals and as a group.

What are your objectives in Maputo?
We didn’t have a great start here. But now, we would like to win at least one game. This would be nice for us, for the efforts we made.

How did you start playing basketball? Was it by sheer luck or was it something you wanted?
I started playing at the age of 11. It was by mere luck. I was going to the church one day and saw some people practicing. I asked if I could join them, and to make a long story short, it was at this time that it all began for me.

Then, what happened?
I started playing for teams in Cape Verde, until now. I am currently based in Portugal, with GDESSA Barreiro, where I can swap posts, depending on the team’s needs.

When did you start playing for Cape Verde’s national team?
It was in 2016 when we entered the CPLP (Community of Portuguese Language Countries) Games. We did not have a great tournament. But we are really proud to show our team’s colors.

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