Sports

Rio 2016: Oguchi eyes rematch with US basketball team

Published

9 years ago

October 17, 2015

In from Nifemi Daniel

Nigeria basketball star Chamberlain Oguchi has expressed his desire to battle the USA basketball team in a rematch at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics in Brazil.

Speaking on Friday, the Most Valuable Player of AfroBasket 2015 said playing against the Americans again will be a great match.

Now, it is all about gearing up for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Nine teams are already qualified, including the USA, Spain, Lithuania,Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, Australia and China.

Nigeria don’t keep good memories of facing the world champions, especially after conceding an Olympian record 156-73 to the USA.

Still, Oguchi, who featured in that contest in the British capital says, they would do things differently if they are to face to the Olympic reigning champions.

“It’s a game that we would like to play again,” he said to Polish website Przeglad Sportowy.

“They played their best game, while we played our worst one.”

Recounting his 2015 AfroBasketball experience, the 29-year-old shooting guard in an interview with FIBA.com said: “We wanted to raise awareness to the sport in Nigeria, and that was a good way that we were able to do that.”

In Tunisia, Oguchi stepped up at his best, lifting Nigeria when it mattered most.

First, he made 24 of his 28 points from beyond the arc to deny Senegal in the Semi-Final, then he disrupted the Angolan defensive game in the Championship game with 19 points, just be named the tournament MVP.

“It’s great to be able to be crowned two-time olympian, it’s an honour,” he noted, paying tribute to Ike Diogu, the team captain who sat out the entire tournament due to a leg injury.

“Even though he didn’t play, his tremendous presence in the locker room was great. I dedicate everything to him.

“As a great leader he really challenged me, he really challenged the whole team.”

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