BARCELONA (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Romanian hoops fans should get used to Emanuel Cate because the 20-year-old center is ready to change the face of basketball in his country.

That starts by leading a successful generation in doing all they can to advance through the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers and play at China 2019.

Cate had a leading role in what must rank as one of the biggest victories in Romania's basketball history, collecting 13 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks in a 58-56 victory over Croatia on the road in Zadar.

"This victory proved that we can believe in our chances and play at a high level. These kind of moments can be the key to a future competitive Romanian basketball team," said Cate, who is leading Romania in scoring (14.0 points per game) through two windows, ranks first in the European Qualifiers with 9.8 rebounds a game and is second in blocks at 2.5 per contest.

Against Croatia, Romania trailed by 12 points and scored only five points in the second quarter. But the young Romanians showed their character by coming back and grabbing an eight-point lead in the fourth quarter before holding on for the win despite playing in the unfavorable atmosphere in Zadar.

"THIS VICTORY PROVED THAT WE CAN BELIEVE IN OUR CHANCES AND PLAY AT A HIGH LEVEL. THESE KINDS OF MOMENTS CAN BE THE KEY TO A FUTURE COMPETITIVE ROMANIAN BASKETBALL TEAM" CateCate

Cate was one of five players on Romania's team 21 years of age or younger.

At FIBA EuroBasket 2017, where Romania - as tournament co-hosts - lost all five games, he averaged 1.0 point and 2.4 rebounds per game. But he is a different player than when he made his senior national team debut.

"I got a lot of playing time at my club (this season) as well as working out at a great level - things that raised my self-confidence a lot on the court," said Cate, who moved from Spanish first division side Betis Energia Plus Seville to Prat Joventut in the second flight, where he is averaging 10.9 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks, including picking up 14 points and 21 rebounds in his last game before the February window.

Cate also credits the change of the national team coach from Marcel Tenter last summer to Zare Markovski during the Qualifiers to the improved play for Romania.

"The new (coach) is trusting in the young players," said Cate, who was joining teammates who helped Romania claim the title at the FIBA U20 European Championship 2017 Division B to earn promotion to Division A at the U20 level for the first time in the country's history.

The Bucharest native Cate was named the tournament's MVP after averaging 15.7 points, 12.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.5 blocks and 1.5 steals. He was joined on the All-Star Five by Nandor Kuti, who played in both windows - as have fellow U20 teammates Bogdan Nicolescu and Georges Darwiche, while Amadeo Casale has featured in one game.

"It's an honor to represent the country's flag and I'm going to do whatever I can to obtain the best results with the national team. At this moment, Romania need results, and my generation is ready to change the face of the Romanian national team," Cate emphasized.

"My goal with the national team is qualifying to the World Cup. I am trying to play every single game at my best, knowing that I can give my best only by practicing each day at the highest level and I am trying to transfer to all my teammates my fighting spirit."

Romania's second game of the February Qualifiers was a 101-50 defeat at the hands of Italy that brought the team back down to earth. But Cate knows their 2-2 mark in Group D - with wins over Netherlands and Croatia - put Romania in a good position even if the fight to reach the Second Round of the Qualifiers is still is long though.

"We need to keep going in the next games. The biggest thing the team takes from the win [at Croatia] is that with serious daily hard work we can build a strong team," Cate said.

"QUALIFYING FOR CHINA 2019 WOULD WRITE A BIG PAGE OF HISTORY FOR OUR COUNTRY AND FOR SURE WOULD BRING TEARS OF EMOTION FOR US AND THE PEOPLE WHO WATCH US" CateCate

Next up for Romania are a road game against Netherlands on June 28 and a home game versus Croatia on July 1. Cate said the first thing he hopes for is that everybody is healthy, referring to veteran star Vlad Moldoveanu as well as Rolland Torok, who both missed the second window with injuries.

"Second of all, we need to push with all our resources in order to get a win that can put us in the Second Round of the Qualifiers," Cate said. "I'm aware that for our opponents it's a matter of going to the World Cup or staying home, but we are preparing a strong reply as well."

When asked what reaching the Second Round of the Qualifiers would mean to the country after losing all of its games at last year's EuroBasket by an average of 19.6 points, Cate said: "We could play against some well-known basketball forces [that Romania played last summer], so we gained experience. Qualifying for the Second Round would be a great sign that we are doing things right."

"IT'S AN HONOR TO REPRESENT THE COUNTRY'S FLAG AND I'M GOING TO DO WHATEVER I CAN TO OBTAIN THE BEST RESULTS WITH THE NATIONAL TEAM. AT THIS MOMENT, ROMANIA NEED RESULTS AND MY GENERATION IS READY TO CHANGE THE FACE OF THE ROMANIAN NATIONAL TEAM" CateCate

Cate would love to help Romania reach the World Cup for the first time.

"Basketball in Romania is improving, and I would like my generation to take the country to the World Cup. Personally, I wish that with all my heart," he said.

And what if Romania actually qualify for China 2019? 

"Qualifying for China 2019 would write a big page of history for our country and for sure would bring tears of emotion for us and the people who watch us," Cate said.

FIBA