Yanick Moreira (ANG)
23/03/2015
Julio Chitunda's African Message
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Real March Madness for Yanick Moreira

SHEFFIELD (Julio Chitunda's African Message) - March Madness 2015 was a really crazy experience for Angolan rising star Yanick Moreira.

Among the 18 African-born student-athletes playing in the NCAA tournament Division 1 this season, none has endured a tough run the way that Moreira has had to.

While Kenyan Tom Wamukota (Wichita State Shockers) and Egypt big man Anas Mahmoud (Louisville Cardinals) became the only Africans to advance to the Sweet 16 stage of the NCAA Tournament, Moreira might still be wondering how he could have finished his college career after having to apologise to teammates, fans, and raising a national - or should it be international? - debate about his last action in the collegiate ranks.

Just a quick rewind.

It was 19 March, during the round of 64, the day that Southern Methodist University (SMU) returned to the tournament for the first time since 1993.

SMU center Moreira, who was making his debut in the national championship, did everything in his power, but could not help his sixth-seeded team avoid a heartbreaking 60-59 defeat against UCLA.

SMU led by two points with 12 seconds left to play when UCLA sharpshooter Bryce Alford attempted a desperate game-winning shot from beyond the three-point line.

There was no way that the ball was going in, or that it would even touch the rim. It looked like an airball.

Judging by replay of online videos, I feel Moreira was right in grabbing the "airball" considering the distance between the ball and the rim.

But for the officiating team, Moreira, who contributed eight rebounds and six points, did what he wasn't supposed to do by touching the ball on its descent towards the basket.

The rule says: "Goaltending occurs when a defensive player touches the ball during a field-goal try and each of the following conditions is met: the ball is on the downward flight; and the ball is above the level of the ring and has a possibility of entering the basket."

The Angolan ace desperately requested a replay, but the referees called Moreira for goaltending, giving UCLA three points and an improbable victory.

SMU had 10 seconds to tie or win the game, but it was not meant to be, and Moreira, who helped his school win 54 games over two seasons, entered the college basketball books for reasons that he surely did not expect. 

For the 2.11m big man, who led his country in scoring at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain, it was much more than controversial, it was painful.

"I thought I had the ball in my hands, I didn't know it hit the rim," he said afterward.

"It's all my fault, I should've let the ball hit the rim.

"It's going to be hard to forget.

Every time I get on a court I will think about it - Moreira

Some called it "the most controversial of a chaotic first day of the NCAA tournament." 

Even NBA reigning MVP Kevin Durant had an opinion about Moreira's play.

The 23-year-old senior had just helped SMU win the American Athletic Conference (The American)'s regular-season, and was poised to make history for his country by becoming the first Angolan to advance to the third round of the tournament, but things did not work out that way.

Now that Moreira's college career is over, we'll have a chance to see how he bounces back from this disappointing moment.

If he commits to his national team, we'll see him representing the reigning African champions at AfroBasket 2015, taking place in Tunisia from 19 to 30 August and serving as a qualifier tournament for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

But if decides to declare for the NBA draft, and work on his dream of becoming the first Angolan to enter the world's biggest league, then we'll see him around summer league camps.

Julio Chitunda

FIBA

FIBA's columnists write on a wide range of topics relating to basketball that are of interest to them. The opinions they express are their own and in no way reflect those of FIBA.

FIBA takes no responsibility and gives no guarantees, warranties or representations, implied or otherwise, for the content or accuracy of the content and opinion expressed in the above article.

Julio Chitunda

Julio Chitunda

Julio Chitunda, a University of Sheffield alumni and former semi-professional player, has worked for a number of Portuguese media outlets as well as The Press Association and covered international basketball for over a decade. Through his column, he offers an insight into basketball on the world's second biggest continent.