ALEXANDRIA (Egypt) - Revered by many, unquestionably talented, Amr Abdelhalim made quite a splash in the November window of the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers where he helped Egypt to a 3-0 start.

Gendy, as he prefers to be known in basketball circles, not only led Egypt with a team-high 14 points per game, but he also finished with the team's second highest performance rating behind Anas Mahmoud. 

That's quite an achievement for a man who started all three games off the bench. 

"TO BE ABLE TO PLAY FOR THE EGYPTIAN NATIONAL TEAM IS AN HONOR, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT KEEP ME GOING."- Amr Gendy

And as Egypt go from strength to strength, the inevitable question is what comes next for 29-year-old?

"He is one of our best players, but as long as I am the head coach, he is going to continue to better serve our team as a substitute," Egypt head coach Ahmed Marei said, adding: "We don't have superstars in this team, he is a great guy, hardworking and I am happy about his role in the team."

Gendy backed Marei's statement, saying to FIBA.basketball: "I appreciate his [coach Ahmed Marei] remarks about me, and he's right as this is all about a team effort. It's not just about me. I love scoring but one one my strengths is to get my teammates involved."

Egypt's sixth-man Gendy has seen a little bit of everything with the 'Pharaohs' jersey.

From leading Egypt to the title of the FIBA U18 African Championship 2008, a tournament in which he received MVP honours, to facing the likes of USA superstar Klay Thompson at FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2009 in New Zealand, Gendy has seen it all. 

And how about going up against Serbia's great Milos Teodosic, Spain's Ricky Rubio and a Nicolas Batum-led France team at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2014? 

"I feel privileged, and I just want to continue to help and make a difference to the growth of basketball in Egypt," Gendy said about his national team career. 

Amr Gendy made his FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2014, and hopes to return in 2023

He continued: "To be able to play for the Egyptian national team is an honor, and that's what one of the reasons that keep me going." 

A left-handed guard, who attacks the rim with ferocity, the 1.93m (6ft 4in) revealed why he appears to be hard to defend.

"[Being left-handed] It is advantage for me, for sure, because my opponents tend to protect the right side, which makes things easier for me."

Detailing Egypt's Group E wins over Uganda (2-1), Morocco (0-3) and Cape Verde (1-2), Gendy recalled that there is still work to be done. Winning three games is just the start of something big they hope to achieve.

"Of course we had a good start to these Qualifiers, but our big dream is to qualify for the [FIBA Basketball] World Cup 2023."

A sign of appreciation from Morocco's Mohamed Choua  seen lifting Amr Gendy 

In the newly updated FIBA World Ranking Men, presented by Nike, the Egyptians are currently ranked 60th globally and sixth among African national teams, but Gendy has even higher goals in mind. "As a team, and at continental level, our goal is to be as strong as teams like Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia," he said.

Gendy is one of the most sough-after Egyptian players of the moment, and when Egypt giants Al Ahly knocked on his door with a contract offer a few months ago, he sat with former club Gezira and both parts parted way.

FIBA