MILWAUKEE (2010 FIBA World Championship) - Four wild cards for the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey are to be handed out in less than a month in Istanbul with teams from Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa chomping at the bit to receive one.

A huge talent in Cameroon, the Milwaukee Bucks’ standout forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, is among those dreaming to take part in the important 24-team event.

“We deserve it more than anyone,” the 23-year-old said to FIBA.com.

“It could be a good thing. If we get an invitation, it would be a deserved one.”

Cameroon has never played at a FIBA World Championship, but the national side’s potential is huge, especially when considering its magnificent silver-medal run at the Afrobasket two years ago.

Mbah a Moute made the all-tournament team that year.

This summer in Libya, due in large part to the absences of Mbah a Moute and former coach Lazare Adingono, Cameroon fell to the Ivory Coast in the Afrobasket Semi-Final and then lost in the bronze medal game to Tunisia.

Mbah a Moute is confident Cameroon would have a better showing next year if given the chance to compete in Turkey.

“We are a growing team, and having a wild card would be a boost to basketball in our country,” he said.

“We played really well at the last two African championships; we played the championship game against Angola two years ago; we played at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Athens and we lost to Ivory Coast in the Semi-Final in the (2009) African championship.”

Will he play in Turkey?

NBA commitments prevented Mbah a Moute from linking up with Cameroon the last two tournaments.

Mbah a Moute, who played college basketball at UCLA, had to focus on his career with the Milwaukee Bucks and missed the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament and this year’s Afrobasket.

While his country suffered, there is no doubt that Mbah a Moute has improved. Also, Milwaukee looks like a much better team this year.

Australia center Andrew Bogut has another year of experience under his belt while the team also has the exciting rookie playmaker, Brandon Jennings.

Mbah a Moute is playing a crucial role with the Bucks.

In a recent game against the Dallas Mavericks, the Cameroonian had 13 points and six rebounds in a 115-113 overtime defeat.

Germany’s Dirk Nowitzki hit a shot at the buzzer to win the game for the Mavs.

Mbah a Moute had another reason to feel frustrated after that game.

“I hurt my foot against Dallas,” he said. “I don‘t know how long I will be out. It is a day-to-day situation.”

So far, so good for Milwaukee, Mbah a Moute said.

“We are 5-3 (6-3 after Wednesday's win over New Jersey), which is pretty good, and we expect to keep our form and do even better,” he said.

“Some guys have been writing that we are a low ranked team. We have new players who are trying to find their roles in the team.

“All we want is to play hard and control our efforts.”

Barring injury, Mbah a Moute says he will be in Turkey if Cameroon are invited.

“I am 100% sure I am going to Turkey if we are handed a wild card,” he said.

“This is the aim of any player. My commitment to the national team remains very solid as long as I am in position to do it.”

Importance of receiving wild card

The prestige of a wild-card invitation is not lost on Mbah a Moute or anyone else in his homeland.

Hosts Turkey and Olympic champions Team USA were the first two sides to have places in the event.

Oceania champions New Zealand and runners-up Australia have qualified, along with Afrobasket medalists Angola, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, FIBA Asia outfits Iran, China and Jordan, FIBA Americas sides Brazil, Puerto Rico, Argentina and Canada, and European teams Spain, Serbia, Greece, Slovenia, France and Croatia.

Four other sides will join them.

“Cameroon is internationally well known for our soccer team,” Mbah a Moute said, “but our basketball talent is to be looked at.

“We are a very good team. We just want to keep this enthusiasm among our fans back home.

“We have a talented team. Both the NBA and FIBA are aware of it. We have good guys playing in colleges in the U.S. and in Europe.”

As far as the competitiveness of the African teams, 10-time Afrobasket champions Angola are deemed the most potent.

Ivory Coast and Tunisia will make their FIBA World Championship bows.

“Looking at the African teams that will be in Turkey, I can say that the Africans may have a chance to succeed next year,” Mbah a Moute said.

Julio Chitunda
FIBA