CMR - Bruin Mbah a Moute to shift focus to Cameroon

LOS ANGELES (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) – Cameroon’s Luc Mbah a Moute desperately wanted to win an NCAA championship this season with UCLA but for the third consecutive year, the Bruins saw their dream dashed at the Final Four.

Mbah a Moute still can’t believe he and his teammates finished the season with 35-4 record yet failed to win the title.

“It is very hard losing for the third consecutive year in the Final Four,” the 6ft 8in forward said to FIBA.com.

“Obviously, this year I really thought we had a chance to go all the way but once again, we fell short.”

Mbah a Moute will have one more shot at glory as a senior, but can’t think about anything else right now.

“I don't know what my ambitions for next season are,” he said. “Right now, I am just digesting this loss.”

Switching gears

A smile will eventually return to his face, though.

He can’t help but be happy when considering, for example, the potential he and his international teammates have.

Last year, they finished runners-up to Angola at the FIBA Africa Championship. That qualified the team for a place at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Athens where they will take on Puerto Rico and Croatia in Group D.

Many regarded Cameroon as a big surprise in Africa.

“Yes I agree!” Mbah a Moute said. “It was a surprise because Cameroon has never reached the final of the FIBA Africa Championship. But at the same time, it was not really a surprise for us because we know how much talent Cameroon has.”

If they finish first or second in their qualifying tournament group, Mbah a Moute and Co would then take on Korea, Canada or Slovenia in a quarter-final.

Three places for the Olympics are still up for grabs which means the finalists and the side that comes in third will advance to the Beijing Games.

The will is there for the players to make it to China.

But it’s not just down to them, Mbah a Moute says.

“It is just a matter of the [Cameroon] government believing in basketball, and becoming more serious about it by putting the financial means we need to reach our potential,” he said.

“The Olympic Games make up the biggest sporting event in the world and to have a chance to participate in something of that sort is very special.”

Facing the challenge

Cameroon will arrive in Greece this July as the underdogs in their group.

“Those two teams [Croatia and Puerto] are two of the elite teams when it comes to international basketball,” Mbah a Moute said.

“Going up against them is going to be a really tough challenge but I believe if we get all the financial and structural support we need from our government to prepare and put together our best Cameroonian basketball team, then we'll give ourselves a good chance.”

The national team does not need any additional incentive heading to Athens, but it received some after the draw for the tournament when their group opponents talked about the African side.

Croatian Marko Popovic said of Cameroon: "I don't know much about Cameroon. I can only guess that they are good athletes who probably lack the proper basketball education."

And Puerto Rico coach Manolo Cintron added: "Without disrespecting Cameroon, they are a rival we must beat and assure ourselves of a place in the quarter-finals. The important game is against Croatia to determine the first spot of the group.”

So what does Mbah a Moute think about that?

“No comment,” he said coolly.

Mbah a Moute will be one of the most exciting players on show in Group D.

He was voted to the all-tournament team at the FIBA Africa Championship last year along Angolans Joaquim Gomes and Olimpio Cipriano and Cape Verde internationals Rodrigo Mascarenhas and Marques Houtman.

The 21-year-old forward Mbah a Moute was his team’s second leading scorer in the Cameroon squad, averaging more than 13 points per contest.

Brice Vounang topped the charts for Cameroon at almost 15 points a game.

The four players who made the all-tournament team with Mbah a Moute are all on the books of Angolan powerhouse Primeiro de Agosto.

“I definitely plan on becoming professional,” Mbah a Moute said. “Hopefully that will happen soon.”

`Cameroon Crazies’

Back in Los Angeles, Mbah a Moute is the only UCLA player to have started the NCAA Final Four in three consecutive years.

“My experience at UCLA has been great so far,” he said.

“UCLA is one of the best universities in the world. Its combination of academic excellence and athletic prestige makes it so much special.

“UCLA is also located in Los Angeles, a very exceptional city that has a lot to offer socially.”

Mbah a Moute is not the only Cameroonian on the UCLA roster. Alfred Aboya is another, and that is why there is a section of fans called the “Cameroon Crazies”:

“The fans here are crazy, they give us a lot of love and the “Cameroon Crazies” is just another example of how much exceptional it is to play for UCLA,” he said.

“They come to all the games and cheer us on, when you have that much support you can only expect good things.”

It’s safe to say that if Cameroon snatch one of the spots for the Beijing Games, the entire country will get a little crazy.

FIBA