LUANDA (Angola) - Italee Lucas, the former FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women (ACCW) Most Valuable Player (MVP) and reigning Women's Basketball League Africa (WBLA) bronze medalist, is heading to Abidjan for this year's Women's AfroBasket. She is looking to achieve more than just victories for her country. After missing the 2023 edition in Kigali, where her country failed to reach the quarterfinals and finished tenth, Lucas is confident that the team's combination of youth and experience will lead to better results this time around.
"A successful competition for me goes beyond numbers, wins or loses. It’s to be able to use this platform and God's gifts to inspire. To give, even if it’s just one person hope, and passion and just a different way to see life," Lucas told FIBA.basketball. For the 2007 FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup champion, it was not with her adopted country of Angola but with her native USA, Angola has already achieved something by "showing up and representing our countries with pride and integrity."
The two-time champions are yet to replicate their 2000's exploits where they won back-to-back in 2011 and 2013 after settling for bronze in 2007 and 2009. However, experience from players like Lucas, two-time winner Nadir Manuel and the tireless Christina Matiquite are expected to push the team to better results. "This year you will see some new faces. I am excited to see the younger generation grow and be a part of something special," she continued, further hinting that the new-look squad will be a revelation for the continent. Despite their 2023 show being their worst finish in 20 appearances, Lucas believes her squad will bounce back in Abidjan.
"It wasn’t a disappointing show at all I was and am very proud of the team," she said about the ninth-place finish. "All the sacrifices and adversities that are faced that no one knows about, and still , they show up and represent the country. I’m very proud. With talented young players and eager spirits and experience that’s how we will bounce back."
The squad held part of their preparations in Spain before travelling to Abidjan, but the shooting guard says their qualification matches against Mozambique were "the best preparation we could have had." She explains, "Mozambique is always a fun match up. It's competitive every single time whether it’s versus club teams or on the national level. They are always intense games. I have so much respect for the country and their fight. Playing against them in the qualifications was the best preparation we could have had and I’m so happy they will also be in AfroBasket. AfroBasket wouldn’t be the same without them."
FIBA