Cape Verde Basketball

After finding themselves on the podium in the past two major international competitions, with bronze medals at the Lusophonia Games in Macau, China, and last year’s Africa FIBA regional, Cape Verde’s Olympic hopes and dreams were quickly dashed after consecutive losses to teams ranked #13 and #9 in the World, New Zealand and Germany.

It was a mixture of emotions: Cape Verde had never had a team representing the country at this level of international competition in any sport, in history, but it quickly became apparent that elite teams, among the best in the world, are elite for a reason.

The first matchup saw Cape Verde start ice cold, allowing New Zealand to build a 16-0 lead before finally getting on the scoreboard with a layup by Rodrigo Mascarenhas. New Zealand never relinquished that early lead and momentum, and won easily, 77-50. Jeff Xavier scored 22 points to lead Cape Verde.

Against Germany, the twin 7-footer attack of NBA All-Star Dirk Nowitki and Chris Kaman, starting center for the LA Clippers of the NBA, proved to much to handle. Observer Kris Santiago, who has covered Cape Verde for FIBA.com, said that at times Mascarenhas, Cape Verde’s biggest player who was named defensive player of the year in his European pro league two years ago, handled the German big men well, but overall the efficiency of Germany, combined with skill at both ends of the court, resulted in another lopsided loss, this time 104-68, and Cape Verde was sent home, with no chance to make the Olympics - in Beijing. Cape Verde will no doubt regroup and continue to perform well internationally. Its certainly not the last to be seen of this great team, and terrific to be on the court with some of the world’s best teams, with their collection of NBA stars on the roster.

Jeff Xavier, the talented Senior shooting guard from Providence College, had 21 points in the Germany loss. His scoring average of 21.5 points per game placed him at #4, out of 50 players listed, in the entire Olympic Qualifying tournament.

Congratulations, Cape Verde cagers, and please continue to check here for all of the latest news regarding Cape Verde basketball!

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Check out the latest news posts on FIBA.com Click the links below to view the articles.

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Pawtucket’s Jeff Xavier has been experiencing Olympic-size dreams recently – as in the Summer Games scheduled in five weeks in Beijing.

Heading into his senior year at Providence College, Xavier will join the Cape Verdean National Team in the country’s quest to qualify for the China games. Cape Verde is one of 12 countries that will battle it out for three coveted spots at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, which gets underway in Athens on July 15.

After spending 12 hours in the air Sunday, Xavier arrived at the western coast of Africa –which is regarded as a heavy Portuguese area – primed for his first day of training camp. “Every person wants to represent their country,” said Xavier, who in his first season with the Friars led them in scoring (12.4 ppg) and 3-pointers (76). “I’m getting my chance.”

National pride is something that’s been hanging over Xavier’s head. The former St. Raphael standout possesses dual citizenship as his parents, Pedro and Alice Xavier, were born in Cape Verde (both came to the United States at age 11).

The hoops safari comes with an added bonus with Xavier having the chance to finally meet his aunt and grandmother. “I have never spoken to them, but my mom talks to my grandma all the time,” he says.

This isn’t the first time Xavier has flirted with the idea of suiting up for his parents’ native soil. Cape Verde basketball officials extended an invitation to the 6-foot-1 guard last summer, and while the reception was positive on the player’s end, the idea was nixed (PC was already committed for some games in Italy in August).

The idea surfaced again shortly after Xavier wrapped his junior term last month. Cape Verde president Pedro Pires wrote a letter on Xavier’s behalf, but the dismissal of Tim Welsh/search for a replacement held up the process until the 11th hour.

Xavier received his blessing from new Friars coach Keno Davis two weeks ago, and after the completion of some paperwork, he was off. “Everything was on hold, but [Davis] was excited and wished me luck.”

For Xavier, spending his summer months globetrotting, basketball in tow, is quickly becoming old habit. When he was at Manhattan, Xavier was on a group of MAAC All-Stars that spend time in China three years ago. The team went 7-0 and Xavier was among the team’s leading scorers, averaging 12 points for the trip.

Xavier didn’t play much in the Friars’ visit to Italy, the result of a broken foot that would go on to nag him for the bulk of last season. The pain intensified as the season progressed, for Xavier had no choice to wear a stabilizing boot between games and practices.

Xavier says he wouldn’t risk his final season of college ball if he wasn’t 100 percent, which he has felt for sometime. “There’s no pain. My goal is to stay healthy,” he said. “I’m taking it easy but working hard at the same time.”

The Cape Verdeans aim to build off last summer’s bronze finish at last year’s FIBA Africa Championship, though a daunting task awaits. There are four groups in the Athens region with Cape Verde paired with New Zealand (the country’s first opponent on July 15) along with Dirk Nowitzki and Germany.

Former Friar Ryan Gomes has been linked to the national team because of his Cape Verdean ancestry, but he’s currently not listed on the roster. His absence may stem from the ex-Boston Celtic’s restricted free agent status.

Besides Nowitzki, other NBA players expected to dock in Athens include Phoenix’s Leandro Barbosa (Brazil), Toronto’s Rasho Nesterovic (Slovenia) and Orlando’s Carlos Arroyo (Puerto Rico). Former URI point guard Parfait Bitee will suit up for his native Cameroon.

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4 members of the Cape Verde National Team, among the newest members, are current or recent college players. Two of these collegians - 6′9″ Vinny Lima, now playing for Northeastern University in Boston, and Ivan Almeida, who completed 2 years at Mohawk Valley Community College in New York, have played with the team in the past. Providence College Senior guard and leading scorer Jeff Xavier, J/X, and recent U-Mass Graduate Tony Barros, until recently the newest member of the squad, complete the list of collegiate players.

2 Professional players playing in Europe: 6′9″ power forward Peter Cipriano, who plays in Finland, and guard Avery Oliver, who plays in Germany, complete the alterations to the roster. The remaining corps of players mainly play pro in Europe or Africa, specifically Portugal or Angola.

This mix of youth and veterans will hopefully serve the team well as they face New Zealand and Germany July 14th and 15th.

Jeff Xavier led Providence College in scoring with 12.4 ppg, and also led the Big East conference in steals.

Cape Verde could at times have as many as 3 collegiate players on the court at once, with Xavier and Barros vying for starting spots at the shooting and point guard positions, respectively, and Lima and Almeida reserves at forward and guard. Almeida, at 6′6″, can play several positions including small forward.

Go Cape Verde!

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Although from a small African country, the national team of Cape Verde does at times receive major media coverage, particularly on the eve of this historic Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Recent coverage has included more than half a dozen articles on the official FIBA website, FIBA.com, as well as mentions in the Providence Journal, Pro Basketball News, and elsewhere. Jeff Xavier’s addition to the team sparked an article on the website of the NCAA, NCAA.com, as well as an extensive article in the Pawtucket Times June 24th, www.PawtucketTimes.com ‘Friar’s Xavier has Olympic Hopes.’

Any members of the media covering the team can contact Dan Klotz, Dan@CVHoops.com or Pedro Gomes, Criolo@hotmail.com

Go Cape Verde!

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Cape Verde will face New Zealand July 14th and Dirk Nowitzki-led Germany July 15th, during the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Athens, Greece. Prior to this, Cape Verde will play exhibition games against the national teams of Senegal and Mali, and then travel to France to play in a tournament against professional teams before heading to Athens. Go Cape Verde!

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Pedro Gomes is a very important part of the national team, a key man behind the scenes, involved with virtually everything to do with both the men’s and women’s national basketball teams of Cape Verde, the CVNT. Pedro has a very interesting history. At the moment, he is working for the United Nations, UN, on various anti-terrorism and anti-drug trafficking programs. He is married, to a judge, and the couple has a young child. They live in Praia, Cape Verde’s largest and Capital city. Pedro is just over 30 years old, but has accomplished much even at this young age.

Pedro came to the US to attend college and play basketball. He went to the University of Massachusetts-Boston, the school founded by the late US President John F. Kennedy. At U-Mass, Pedro became a star basketball player. At 6′5″, he was made for the sport. Pedro went on, after graduating from the university, to play as a member of the Cape Verde National Team.

Pedro also played professionally, for several seasons, in Portugal. With this long and successful experience of playing basketball, Pedro has, in recent years turned his attention to the development of the sport in a variety of ways. He writes on a frequent basis about basketball in Cape Verde, at all levels, for the website: www.AfricaBasket.com, on the Cape Verde homepage. This covers not only national team news, but also information about Cape Verdean players in college or professionally abroad; local sports news about teams in Praia, Mindelo, or other cities; and anything affecting Cape Verde basketball.

In addition, Pedro helps to identify talented Cape Verdean basketball players, and support them when possible. One recent example: Pedro helped get Vinny Lima the information and support necessary for Vinny, a 6′9″ forward who is a young member of the national team, and has now enrolled at Northeastern University in Boston, where he plays on the Northeastern Huskies basketball team. Northeastern is the Alma Mater of Puerto Rican national team player and NBA player Jose Juan Barea, the former pro, late Reggie Lewis, and several European pro players. Being in Boston will allow Lima a chance for a valuable education, as well as the possibility to play major college basketball in the US.

In recent years, and sometimes along with the UN, Pedro has arranged basketball camps for children that have brought NBA stars to Cape Verde. Really, even though he himself is no longer wearing the uniform and competing internationally for Cape Verde, Pedro is highly involved in just about anything having to do with Cape Verde, and basketball.

Congratulations, Pedro, for all of your hard work!

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