Madagascar's Kevin Gilbert: "We don’t have any regrets"

ANTANANARIVO (Madagascar) - Suiting up for the national team is quite something. In 2014,  Madagascar center Kevin Gilbert and point guard Kiady Razanamahenina heeded the call at the FIBA U18 African Championship, and they made sure they would live their dream to the fullest.

"It was quite special," counts Gilbert, now aged 25.

In 2014, he was 17 and was sporting the national team jersey for his second African campaign.

"I remember the support we had from the Malagasy Federation. We were all so proud to be defending our colors against other African countries."

Razanamahenina adds: "We were so young, but we played in front of our home fans! It brings everything to a whole new level."

So much so that they started their campaign by defeating Mali, Benin and Mozambique.

With three wins in a row, they headed to the Quarter-Finals, against Angola. This time, the charm didn't work. "We lost," sadly remember the players.

"But immediately after that fastidious game, we set to work. We had a mission, a kind of pact with the Malagasy people. We were determined to make them proud."

And so, facing Mozambique once again in the Classification Round game, Gilbert, Razanamahenina, Elly Randriamampionona and Livio Ratianarivo made it a point to secure fifth place, just behind Angola. "We didn't take it as a loss. We told each other it was another way to learn and progress in the game, so we didn't have any regrets," notes Gilbert.

For Razanamahenina, it's another story. "I was sad because we couldn't fulfil our mission. I think that somewhere, everyone was sad when we didn't make it against Angola.

Kiady Razanamahenina and Elly Randriamampionona are now in the men's national team

However, Gilbert ended his campaign with 4.5 points per game and 5.7 rebounds. Razanamahenina, on his part, finished with an average of 8.8 PPG, with 14 points against Mozambique and Cote d'Ivoire in the classification games.

Talking about these games brings back memories. Gilbert, himself a 2,05 m (6ft 8in) tall center,  recalls blocking a 2,13 m (6,11 ft) tall Malian opponent. "I still get the shivers when I think about it. He was taller than I am, and I blocked him literally."

Time has passed and both players have built themselves a much respectable career.

Razanamahenina, who resides in France, has last suited up for Madagascar at the FIBA AfroBasket Qualifiers, while Gilbert plies his trade in Mauritius, where he is currently a student, while he plays for Super League side PAS Mates, waiting for the right time to come back to the national team.

But the memories of the FIBA U18 African Championship remain vivid in both their minds. "I remember entering a packed Palais des Sports, at Mahamasina and thought to myself “This is huge. The fans, the atmosphere, the games, all eyes were on us."

As former players of the U18 National team, they would both like to address a message to their younger counterparts. "Enjoy every game. Learn from your victories and defeats. Our sports will bring you so much satisfaction if you put in the necessary efforts", says Gilbert.

Razanamahenina wants to remind the younger generation that the home crowd will always show support. "The whole country will be supporting you, whatever happens. Just go out and give your best and the rest will follow."

FIBA