By Stefan Djordjevic/ info@eurohoops.net
Filou Oostende has been a dominant force in Belgian League winning eight straight titles but in Basketball Champions League, they are yet to advance past the Regular Season.
They are currently fourth in Group A with a 3-4 record and that spot leads them to the playoffs but it won’t be easy at all to keep it during the next seven Gamedays as Lietkabelis, Strasbourg, and UNET Holon share the same record.
Oostende will need a push in the right direction to get to where they need to go and that push might very well come from Braian Angola – as it did in the last game.
Angola banked career-high 33 points including the last five points of the match as well as the game-winning steal and dunk in Oostende’s double-overtime win against Polski Cukier Torun.
The 25-year-old Colombian guard has been playing great during his first year in Europe but his journey has had an even greater impact on the lives around him.
Chasing the American Dream
Although Colombia is a ‘soccer country’, and although Braian was playing it all the time as a kid, his parents were both basketball players and gave him a push in basketball direction at 12 years old.
Of course, once he got the hang of it, there was no going back. In fact, two years later, Braian moved to Villavicencio where nobody knew him and he had to overcome some everyday obstacles, such as walking for five or more miles in order to get to practice or work out every day, but his focus was clear. It was basketball.
And soon after, the tipping point happened. He was invited to the 2015 Adidas Nation basketball showcase in Los Angeles where he managed to earn a scholarship for Nevada High School.
There was one problem, however. Braian didn’t speak English. At all. The language barrier proved to be a real challenge during the first year but the young guard managed to overcome it and gain some spotlight which earned him a scholarship at Junior College in Idaho.
But once again, an obstacle. This time one with a career-ending and life-changing potential. His father passed away. Braian was on the verge of leaving his dreams behind in order to return home and help take care of his big family until he came upon a very deer and motivating memory with his dad:
“I got a scholarship for a Junior College in Idaho, but my dad had passed away and I decided that I’m not going back to the United States and I’d stay back with my family and help my mom. Then, on my Facebook, while I was writing something, I saw a picture of my dad and we were in the airport and it said: ‘In the airport saying bye to a future NBA star. I love you, Braian!’ And the picture was a year before (his father) passed away. Then, I was like, ‘Mom, I want to go back (to the U.S. and basketball) and give me two more years to try and do something’,” Braian said on an occasion, per the Orlando Magic.
Yes, per the Orlando Magic, because that’s where his decision, determination and effort led him.
But first, he became a JUCO first-team All-American while at Northern Idaho College and he also got a chance to play for the Colombian national team averaging 12.7 points a game in the 2017 FIBA AmeriCup.
Then he transferred to Florida State for the remaining two years and reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament in his senior year averaging 12.5 points.
And he did all that while giving his best to take care of his family back home: “When I was in Idaho, it was tough because I had to take care of my family back home. My mom kind of had depression because of my dad, so I would send $200 a month back so they can eat, and I would keep $50 so I can eat. But I just focused on basketball. Every day I just look up and thank God and thank my dad for giving me the opportunity to get up and do what I love.”
Making history and giving birth to new dreams
Angola went undrafted at the 2018 NBA Draft but the Magic didn’t want to let him go just yet and added him to the Summer League squad. He also signed an Exhibit 10 contract and although he didn’t get a chance to step on the floor in an official NBA game, Braian joined the Lakeland Magic G-League team.
Now, it may not seem like a grand success for some but think again. Braian Angola actually became the first Colombian-born player in the NBA and that achievement influenced a lot more people back home than just him and his family.
“A lot of kids (message) me on my Instagram and on my Facebook and tell me how much they love me and how much they want to be like me someday. When we were at the (Magic) Open Practice, this little kid came up to me and she was like, ‘Hi Braian! My birthday present is to be here with you in this Open Practice.’ She had flown in from Colombia (on Monday) and she is flying back (on Thursday). It’s something that I’m really proud of and I hope people can read my story and see how I am very grateful,” Braian said.
Over 38 games in 2018-19 season, Angola posted 9.82 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals on average. He then decided to move on to Europe and joined his current team in April. And he came right on time to help Oostende win another Belgian League title while earning the Finals MVP honors in the process.
He continued with strong performances for the Belgian squad in both the domestic league and BCL this season, and they are showing potential to overcome their boundaries, especially led by a man who already did so more than once throughout his journey so far.
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League