CIV – Amagou eager to play in Turkey with Ivory Coast
ROANNE (2010 FIBA World Championship) - Pape-Philippe Amagou is still celebrating the fact that he and his Ivory Coast teammates are going to play at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey.
The Ivory Coast made a surprising run to the Afrobasket Final in August before falling to Angola.
The silver medal won in Libya was deemed a huge success for the country.
"I am very proud!" Amagou said.
"It is a great pleasure as we were in the role of challenger.
"The team is fun, young and the project is very good for Ivorian basketball.
"The goal now is to qualify for the Olympics, and why not?"
Amagou was born in Maisons-Laffitte, a suburb of Paris, and is French, but his father hailed from the Ivory Coast.
The 23-year-old played for France's junior teams, most recently in 2005 at the U20 European Championship for Men when he averaged 10.5 points per game, but decided to pursue a national team career with the African country.
"I made all the youth teams in France but for me," he said, "it was a little crowded at point guard and shooting guard.
"I talked with (France coach) Vincent Collet about my desire to play for the Ivory Coast and he allowed me to join them.
"Additionally, for me, playing for the Ivory Coast is a small tribute to my father who died in 1995."
France finished fifth at the EuroBasket and also qualified for the FIBA World Championship.
That means Amagou could end up facing some of his former teammates in the youth teams when the event tips off in Turkey.
The 6ft 1in Amagou, who averaged 11.4 points per game at the Afrobasket, is on the books of Chorale Roanne in France.
ROANNE (2010 FIBA World Championship) - Pape-Philippe Amagou is still celebrating the fact that he and his Ivory Coast teammates are going to play at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey.
The Ivory Coast made a surprising run to the Afrobasket Final in August before falling to Angola.
The silver medal won in Libya was deemed a huge success for the country.
"I am very proud!" Amagou said.
"It is a great pleasure as we were in the role of challenger.
"The team is fun, young and the project is very good for Ivorian basketball.
"The goal now is to qualify for the Olympics, and why not?"
Amagou was born in Maisons-Laffitte, a suburb of Paris, and is French, but his father hailed from the Ivory Coast.
The 23-year-old played for France's junior teams, most recently in 2005 at the U20 European Championship for Men when he averaged 10.5 points per game, but decided to pursue a national team career with the African country.
"I made all the youth teams in France but for me," he said, "it was a little crowded at point guard and shooting guard.
"I talked with (France coach) Vincent Collet about my desire to play for the Ivory Coast and he allowed me to join them.
"Additionally, for me, playing for the Ivory Coast is a small tribute to my father who died in 1995."
France finished fifth at the EuroBasket and also qualified for the FIBA World Championship.
That means Amagou could end up facing some of his former teammates in the youth teams when the event tips off in Turkey.
The 6ft 1in Amagou, who averaged 11.4 points per game at the Afrobasket, is on the books of Chorale Roanne in France.
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