ANG - Cipriano arriving, Almeida's ailing

LUANDA (Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - Angola league MVP Olimpio Cipriano of Recreativo do Libolo was due to join the national team training camp in Spain on Wednesday as the country stepped up its preparations for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT).

Cipriano was a surprise omission from last year's Afrobasket squad but has been recalled by new coach José Carlos Guimarães.

Angolan Basketball Federation general secretary António Sofrimento said to FIBA.com on Wednesday afternoon: "He is arriving today to Spain to join the team in training.

"He became a father and the national coach gave him permission to join the team late."

However, another player recalled by the new coach, veteran shooting guard Carlos Almeida of Primeiro de Agosto, has yet to make the trip to Spain and his chances of playing for the Angolans this summer are fading.

The 35-year-old Almeida is nursing a couple of injuries.

Sofrimento said: "I don't think he will be able to play.

"He has a problem in his ankle and he also has a vertebrae problem in his back.

"I don't think he will be able to recover in time."

Almeida played at the last three Olympic Games for Angola while Cipriano was in the 2004 and 2008 sides.

Cipriano averaged 14.8 points per game at the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

He was named the Angola league MVP this season after leading Libolo to their first title.

Other players in the Angola squad being put through their paces in Spain are Leonel Paulo, Armando Costa, Kikas Gomes, Felizardo Ambrósio, Carlos Morais, Paulo Barros, Roberto Fortes, Divaldo Mbunga, Paulo Santana, Jorge Tati, Eduardo Mingas, Milton Barros and Edson Ndoniema.

Angola will face The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and New Zealand in Group D of the OQT.

Three of the 12 teams that play in Caracas will advance to the London Games.


FIBA