LUANDA, September 12 -- The Angolan men's national basketball team was awarded 244,000 US dollars here for their performance at the World Basketball Championship from August 19 to September 3, in Japan.

For the total amount, 144,000 US dollars was handed-over by Angola Basketball Federation (FAB) and 100,000 US dollars by the official sponsor, mobile phone company Movicel, represented by its acting executive director Feliciano Antnio.

The ceremony was held in Luanda's Liberty Park on Monday night with the presence of Angolan Army chief of staff, Agostinho Nelumba Sanjar, Youth and Sports deputy ministers.

From the 12 players that participated in 2006 championship, only 11 were at the dinner, namely Carlos Almeida, Miguel Lutonda, Abdel Bouckar, Olmpio Cipriano, Milton Barros, Joaquim Gomes " Kikas", Victor de Carvalho, Eduardo Mingas and Carlos Morais.

The technical team was represented by Artur Barros, assistant coach, Agostinho Matamba, physician and Antnio de Sousa physiotherapist.

Angola basketball team finished 9th and reached eighth finals, after being put aside by France.