Fernando Pereira and João Vitor Belmiro participate in NBA Camp
U-19 coach and player represent the Mais Querido in the Brazil team at the Americas Team, in Mexico
By Victor Cachoeira - inThe nation's pride is being well represented at the NBA's Americas Team Camp in the United States. Coach Fernando Pereira, head of the red-and-black basketball U-19 team, is participating as the coach of the Brazilian team;the point guard João Vitor Belmiro, Joãozinho, is one of the youngest players in the event, which started on Monday (18) and ends this Thursday (21), in Mexico City.
The event brings together young people born after 2001 from Argentina, Brazil, Canada and Mexico to exchange experiences and train with professionals from the biggest basketball league in the world, such as players Raul Neto, from the Utah Jazz, and Wayne Selden Jr, from the Memphis Grizzlies, as well as NBA assistant coaches Jim Moran, from the Portland Trail Blazzers, Ed Pickney, from the Minnesota Timberwolves, Shawn Respert, from the Chicago Bulls, and Wes Unseld Jr, from the Denver Nuggets.
"The invitation to the Americas Team Camp 2018 came at the end of April from Daniel Soares, Director of Operations for Latin America. The event features the Canadian and Argentine teams that will compete in the U-17 World Cup. I'm working alongside Ed Pickney, Minnesota's assistant, and Raulzinho, from the Utah Jazz, as the coach of the Brazilian team," explained Fernandinho, who also praised Joãozinho. According to the coach, the young FlaBasquete athlete is taking the opportunity to further develop his game.
"He's one of the youngest players at Camp, most were born in 2001, he was born in 2002. Defensively he's doing very well, playing hard and making good point guards struggle. On offense he's having a bit of difficulty, as he's not yet as physically strong as the others, but it's serving as a great learning experience for him. João will certainly take a lot of what he learned these days to his work at Flamengo," analyzed the coach.
This is the second time members of the red-and-black squad have participated in the NBA Americas Team Camp. Fernandinho believes that the quality work developed at the club is crucial for the invitations.
"This shows the quality of the players who have played for and are at the club, like Lucas Zubecchi (formerly of Flamengo and now of Baskonia) and Joãozinho. It reflects the great work being done at Flamengo, both by the players and the staff. We will bring a lot of learning back to the club. It's been a wonderful event, and we're very proud to represent our country at an NBA-level event. It's unforgettable," he concluded.
The Flamengo Regatas basketball teams receive funding from their sponsors – Thinkseg, TIM, AmBev, Rede D'or, IRB Brasil RE, CSN, Brasil Plural, and EY – via the Federal Incentive Law/Ministry of Sports (IR) and the State Incentive Law/Rio de Janeiro State Secretariat of Sports, Recreation, and Youth (Seelje), as well as support from the Brazilian Club Committee (CBC) through the decentralization of funds from the Pelé Law. The Flamengo Guardian Angel Project, a personal tax transfer, benefits all Olympic sports of the club.