PRAIA (Cape Verde) - The fans inside the Vava Duarte Gymnasium knew what they were talking about when Leandro Monteiro replaced Joel Almeida in the second quarter of Wednesday's Kriol Star vs ASB New Generation match.
The hosts of the West Division Elite 16 were trailing 30–18 and things weren't looking great, but when coach Antonio Monteiro called the 18-year-old Leandro, off the bench, the local fans, who had turned out in considerable numbers, gave him a standing ovation.
And Monteiro did not disappoint.
Having sat out Kriol Star's 94–92 loss to CRBT the previous day, he grabbed this opportunity with both hands.
Fans responded with huge applause to every one of Monteiro's actions, capturing the attention of even the most distracted of them.
The 6-foot-3 combo guard blocked shots, dunked, grabbed rebounds, made two three-pointers and dished out three assists.
He gave his all as Kriol Star desperately needed to beat ASB New Generation to keep their semi-final hopes alive. Although things didn't work out for Kriol Star, who lost 85–81 and dropped to 0–2 in the tournament, Monteiro made his mark by scoring 11 points in 24 minutes and 43 seconds.
Could Monteiro, one of the youngest players in the 2025 West Division Elite 16, be Cape Verde's new wonderkid?
Reflecting on Leandro's contribution to the team, Kriol Star head coach Antonio Monteiro explained why he is confident in his future: "I was very happy with his performance. I am extremely proud of him. He's a tough and smart kid who plays without fear. More importantly, he's a good listener. I wish him all the best and hope he continues like that."
Joel Almeida added: "He is our young prospect. He showed composure in this game and looked like he belonged. He did everything the coach asked him to do. His performance tonight shows his maturity and potential. We are very happy to have such a talented player, and I believe he can achieve great things in basketball. I hope he can put Cape Verde on the map. I hope he can continue the legacy that the previous generation started."
When it comes to Cape Verde basketball, Leandro Miranda Monteiro is certainly a name to watch.
FIBA