Red-blacks called up embark for South American basketball tournament
After a training period in São Paulo, players travel to Venezuela
By Communication - Official Club Website - in
After two weeks of preparation in São Paulo, the Brazilian basketball team left early Sunday morning (July 13.07) to Monday morning (July 14.07) for Venezuela, where the South American Championship will be held. Of the 16 athletes initially called up, only 12 will remain on the team that will participate in the competition. Among those selected by coaches Ruben Magnano and José Neto, all four of the red-and-black athletes who were already training with the group in São Paulo were kept.
Cristiano Felício, Vitor Benite, Gegê, and Olivinha, champions of the League of the Americas and the New Basketball Brazil (NBB) with Flamengo, are the Rubro-Negro's representatives on the Brazilian team. The NBB's all-time leading rebounder, Olivinha, explained what he expects from the South American Championship. "I'm very happy to be back with the national team, and my expectations are the highest possible. I've missed it for four years, but there couldn't have been a better time to be called up again. I had a perfect season with Flamengo, we won everything we competed for, and I'm in great shape and ready to help the national team in any way we can. Our mission in the South American Championship is to secure a spot in the Copa América and the 2015 Pan American Games. To do that, we need to finish in the top three, but we're going after the title," he said.
The power forward/center took the opportunity to call on the red-and-black nation, which put on a show last season. "We had an incredible year with Flamengo, and always with the support of this wonderful crowd. The strength that comes from the stands helped us a lot in winning titles. While the 2014/15 season doesn't begin for Flamengo, I want to ask for the support of the red-and-blacks for the national team in the South American Championship. We have four representatives from the team on the court, as well as part of the coaching staff. Send your positive energy to the team, and we will do everything we can to leave Venezuela with another title," he concluded.
Brazil is in Group A and will face Paraguay (July 24.07), Ecuador (July 25.07) and Argentina (July 26.07) in the first phase. Group B includes Chile, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. The top three teams qualify for the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada, while the top four secure a spot in next year's Pre-Olympic Tournament of the Americas.
Cristiano Felício, Vitor Benite, Gegê, and Olivinha, champions of the League of the Americas and the New Basketball Brazil (NBB) with Flamengo, are the Rubro-Negro's representatives on the Brazilian team. The NBB's all-time leading rebounder, Olivinha, explained what he expects from the South American Championship. "I'm very happy to be back with the national team, and my expectations are the highest possible. I've missed it for four years, but there couldn't have been a better time to be called up again. I had a perfect season with Flamengo, we won everything we competed for, and I'm in great shape and ready to help the national team in any way we can. Our mission in the South American Championship is to secure a spot in the Copa América and the 2015 Pan American Games. To do that, we need to finish in the top three, but we're going after the title," he said.
The power forward/center took the opportunity to call on the red-and-black nation, which put on a show last season. "We had an incredible year with Flamengo, and always with the support of this wonderful crowd. The strength that comes from the stands helped us a lot in winning titles. While the 2014/15 season doesn't begin for Flamengo, I want to ask for the support of the red-and-blacks for the national team in the South American Championship. We have four representatives from the team on the court, as well as part of the coaching staff. Send your positive energy to the team, and we will do everything we can to leave Venezuela with another title," he concluded.
Brazil is in Group A and will face Paraguay (July 24.07), Ecuador (July 25.07) and Argentina (July 26.07) in the first phase. Group B includes Chile, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. The top three teams qualify for the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada, while the top four secure a spot in next year's Pre-Olympic Tournament of the Americas.