CAF/GRE - After Euroleague success, Sato sets sights on African glory [video]

BARCELONA (Euroleague/Afrobasket 2011) - Central African Republic sensation Romain Sato got his first taste of Final Four success with Panathinaikos last weekend, but there is one title he is chasing with just as much fervour, if not more - that of Afrobasket champion.

The 30-year-old had 13 points and hit a trio of timely three-pointers in the second half to help Panathinaikos defeat Maccabi Electra 78-70 in the Euroleague finale on Sunday in Barcelona.

The 1.94m guard now hopes he can lead his country to the highest level of success on the African continent.

"I can sit here and say I won the Euroleague but I want to win an African championship. I want to win an African continental championship," he told FIBA a day before being crowned Euroleague champion.

"I haven't won one yet so that's why I keep going back and keep fighting to get a chance to win one. I'd do anything for my country."

Sato believes his country can perform well at this summer's Afrobasket in Madagascar, provided they hold good preparations in the lead-up to the biggest basketball event in Africa.

"I'm looking forward to playing Afrobasket in Madagascar, but right now we've got a long way to go," he conceded.

"We never get to bring guys in early, get a chance to give guys at least time to prepare the tournament. So I hope this year my country starts getting guys over early so we have a chance to do something better."

Sato averaged 21.6 points and 8.6 rebounds to lead the Central African Republic to a sixth place finish at the last Afrobasket in Libya two years ago.

He understands his country is not on the same level as Africa's basketball powers such as Angola and Senegal, for a simple but undeniable reason.

"We don't have the money or the players who play in Europe," he conceded. "We probably have a few. But most of the guys who are playing in Europe, they don't play in the big teams so they have to work and play basketball on the side.

"So sometimes they feel like they have to get a job to work and make some money to live life. Basketball is a second option for some of them. Hopefully this time most guys get there early."

Another issue affecting the Central African Republic national team is their lack of height and size, a problem that has forced a perimeter player like Sato to play out of positon and battle down in the paint.

"For me to go on the national team and play the four or five position, that's though," he admitted. "So if we can get two big men, that's good and I can play on the wing and it will help me and, my team-mates and the team.

"Two years ago I had to guard (Senegale's) Boniface (Ndong) and he's seven feet tall. But that's because my country doesn't have a lot big men.

"We have big men but not everybody wants to come to the national team. So we just play with the guys that we have.

"Against Angola in the quarter-finals (in 2009) we had a chance, but we didn't have a big man and they had (Joaquin) Gomes.

"I had to guard him and it's not easy. It was a lot of work for me to go down and fight with them and try to go down and play on offense."

Sato pays close attention to other countries in Africa for inspiration on how things should be done in a national team set-up.

In his eyes, there is no doubt who sets the standard of excellence on the continent.

"If we're going to look up in Africa for who is the best, it's Angola," he stated. "So if we can follow the way they do things there, maybe it can help us too. They're dominant. Every two years it's Angola. Hopefully one day we get a chance to get closer and beat them.

He believes the sky is the limit if his country can take example from Angola or Senegal.

"Anything is possible, especially if you believe," he reasoned. "Anything you put your mind to, you can get through it."

Sato is not one to settle for anything less than winning and as such he is fully aware of what being champions of Africa brings with it this summer - automatic qualification for next year's Olympics in London.

"That would be a dream come true," he said of taking part in the Summer Games.

"Being here is one of my dreams right now, but the Olympics, you can't ask for more than that. Hopefully I'll get a chance before I retire."

Check out the full interview with Romain Sato

FIBA