Veterans Varejao, Huertas and Barbosa in Brazil World Cup squad
RIO DE JANEIRO (Brazil) - Brazil will have one of the most experienced teams at the FIBA Basketball World Cup with big-name veterans making up the majority of the country's 15-man preliminary squad.
RIO DE JANEIRO (Brazil) - Brazil are assured of having one of the most experienced teams at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in China with long-serving veterans making up the majority of the country's 15-man preliminary squad.
Led by evergreens Anderson Varejao, Marcelinho Huertas and Leandro Barbosa (each 36 years old), coach Aco Petrovic has also included 39-year-old Alex Garcia. Another long-serving player,Marcus Vinicius Vieira de Sousa (aka Marquinhos), is in the group. Each of those players has experienced multiple World Cups.
| Brazil's 15-player preliminary squad for FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 | |||
| Alex Garcia | Anderson Varejao | Augusto Lima | Bruno Caboclo |
| Cristiano Felicio | Jhonatan Luz dos Santos | Leandro Barbosa | Lucas Dias Silva |
| Marcelo Huertas | Marcos Louzada | Marcus Vieira | Rafael Freire Luz |
| Rafael Hettsheimeir | Vitor Benite | Yago Mateus dos Santos | |
Coach Aco Petrovic, who famously steered Croatia past Greece and hosts Italy at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Turin three years ago, has named well known contributors in past teams like Vitor Benite, Augusto Lima and Rafael Hettsheimeir.
In addition to key men in the Americas Qualifiers, Yago Mateus dos Santos and Lucas Dias Silva , are NBA players Cristiano Felicio, and Bruno Caboclo.
O técnico Aleksandar Petrovic, da Seleção Brasileira Adulta Masculina, anunciou hoje os 15 convocados para iniciar a preparação visando a @FIBAWC, que será realizada de 31 de agosto a 15 de setembro na China. Confira a lista e a matéria completa: https://t.co/AcyMrXohoZ pic.twitter.com/FE3oMRWbTl
— Basquete Brasil (@basquetebrasil) July 15, 2019
"This call brings three important points in the group: the first is to have some more experienced players, who all wanted to see action for the Brazilian Team," Petrovic said. "The second brings together the athletes that are playing in the NBA: Caboclo and Felício, who all have a strong desire to play for the national team. The third is made up of two young men - Didi (Marcos Louzada) and Yago - who make the most of the 'windows' of the Qualifiers, which we played for a year and a half.
"With this, the group has a good mix, with all players able to play at a high level, so I feel happy with the athletes called to start the preparation on the 25th (of July).
"The group has almost all the athletes I craved, so now it's good chemistry and the tactical aspects, both defensive and offensive. I believe that after 35 days of pre-season, we will continue to be prepared to make a beautiful championship."
Brazil will train from July 26 to August 7 in Goiás. Their first warm-up game will be in Anápolis against Uruguay before facing the same national team three days later in Belém.
“THE GROUP HAS ALMOST ALL THE ATHLETES I CRAVED, SO NOW IT'S GOOD CHEMISTRY AND THE TACTICAL ASPECTS, BOTH DEFENSIVE AND OFFENSIVE. I BELIEVE THAT AFTER 35 DAYS OF PRE-SEASON, WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE PREPARED TO MAKE A BEAUTIFUL CHAMPIONSHIP.”
"After that, I have a complicated moment in which I will have to define the 12 players, but this is a task that all coaches have," Petrovic said.
Brazil will then cross the Atlantic and travel to Lyon to take part in another friendly tournament that includes Montenegro, Argentina and hosts France.
At the World Cup, which for the first time has 32 teams, Brazil will compete in Group F with New Zealand, Montenegro and Greece.
FIBA