GAB/GRE - Lasme brings African flavor to Euroleague top-16

ATHENS (Euroleague/Afrobasket) - Gabon international Stephane Lasme´s season with Greek giants Panathinaikos Athens is going from strength to strength.

The 2.03m power forward is not only the current leader in block shots in the Euroleague with 2.5 swats per game, he also helped his team qualify to the top-16 of the tournament.

Lasme, who turned 30 on Monday, is one of the few African players still battling for a place in this season's Final Four which will be held in London.

Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul's Romain Sato who hails from Central African Republican and Nigeria's Eze Benjamin of Montepaschi Siena are the other two.

Despite the narrow number, Lasme says that good and big European teams are recognising, more than ever before, how good African players are.

"There are good African players competing in Euroleague," he told FIBA.com.

Sato and Lasme faced each other on two occasions in the Euroleague regular season, with the host team winning each time.

Earlier this month, when Sato returned to Athens – a place he called home for two seasons and helped Panathinaikos win the 2010-11 Euroleague title – Fenerbahce lost 69-55, despite Sato's game-high 20 points while his African fellow had a game-high three blocks.

The Gabonese said of Sato: "It is great to see him still playing at such a high level. He is one of the best players in the Euroleague, and he had such a great game."

Lasme is capitalising from his NBA and Euroleague experience as he currently ranks in the top 10 among rebounders with 6.4 boards per game.

He says Panathinaikos' playing style fits him as head coach Argiris Pedoulakis is using him correctly: "But this is also down to the hard work I had been through the summer in which I worked very hard.

"We are a strong team, and I think that we have a good chance this season," Lasme explained.

The Euroleague has become a familiar territory for Lasme who has played for Partizan Belgrade, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv before he signed for Panithaikos Athens this past September.

"It is great playing at high level as one can go back home and show our brothers and sisters how to play and develop the game," he said when asked about his involvement with Gabon basketball.

Afrobasket

Lasme last played for his country at the 2005 Afrobasket, but representing Gabon is not out of his plans.

"I wish I could have played more for my country, but the trouble is the schedule of the Euroleague and the Afrobasket Qualifying Round that happens in exact same time. Hopefully FIBA Africa will review its qualifying schedules.

Despite basketball popularity in Gabon they failed to qualify for the 2013 Afrobasket.

"Basketball is big in Gabon," Lasme said before explaining the reasons that his country is not among the most regulars at Afrobasket.

"The trouble is lack of time and money to invest and develop the game in the country. The talent is there.

"I go to Gabon as often as I can, and I had a basketball camp there last year."

Asked to predict the winners of next year´s Afrobasket, Lasme said: "Angola is always a favorite, but because Nigeria has lot players in Europe clubs and some with NBA experience I think Nigeria will win."

FIBA