Edy Tavares headlines Cape Verde extended roster for FIBA World Cup / News - Basketnews.com

Edy Tavares leads the charge as Cape Verde announced an extended 15-man roster for the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

Edy Tavares and a host of other veterans are in the Cape Verde squad for the country's debut FIBA Basketball World Cup appearance in Okinawa.

Tavares, 31, a towering 2.21m (7ft 3in) pivot on the books of Real Madrid and one of the best players in European basketball, appeared in seven African Qualifiers games and averaged 14.7 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks.

At FIBA AfroBasket 2021, Tavares made the All-Star Five after spearheading the Blue Sharks' run to the Semi-Finals.

Other veterans in the squad are Ivan Almeida, Joel Almedia, Fidel Mendonca, Kenneti Mendes, and Anderson Correia.

The Almeidas are linchpins and played in 10 of the qualifiers games. Ivan Almeida averaged 12.2 points and a team-high 3.7 assists per game.

Cape Verde is the smallest nation to qualify for the World Cup, and this summer could have one of the oldest rosters.

Joel Almeida is 37 years old, while Ivan will be 34. Mendonca will be 39.

Jeffrey Xavier, who came out of retirement during the qualification campaign, is not on the extended list.

Cape Verde will compete in Group F in Okinawa, Japan, and face Slovenia, Georgia, and Venezuela. If Cape Verde advances to the Second Round, it will meet the teams from Group E, consisting of Germany, Finland, Australia, and Japan.

Cape Verde extended roster

Patrick Mendes Anim Delgado Shane Da Rosa Ivan Almeida Fidel Mendonca Anderson Correia Joel Almeida Kenetti Mendes Amarilson Lopes Will Tavares Kevin Coronel Keven Gomes Patrick Spencer Joao Gomes Walter Tavares Like what we are doing? Support us by becoming BN+ member.