LILLE (France) - Bruno Caboclo was basically a no-show for Brazil in their first two games. After two losses to start the Paris Olympics, the big man finally showed up and saved the team's chances of possibly reaching the Quarter-Finals.
Caboclo poured in 33 points including 4 three-pointers on 13-of-19 shots to go with 17 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in Brazil's 102-84 victory over Japan.
From here, Caboclo will have the chance to showcase his talents even more as Brazil are now qualified for the Quarter-Finals as one of the two best third-placed teams in each Group.
He became the first player with more than 30 points and more than 15 rebounds in a game at the Olympics since Spain's Clifford Luyk in 1972 against Germany (31 points, 17 rebounds).
One of the biggest plays of all for Caboclo was a massive block on Yuta Watanabe with 6 minutes left in the game and Japan challenging to get back into the game.
The 2nd best efficiency at the Olympics
Caboclo registered an efficiency of 43 which was the second highest since efficiency started in 2016. The only higher mark was Luka Doncic's 49 against Argentina in 2021.
The 17 rebounds pushed Caboclo into the top 10 all-time in a single game, tying him with seven other players for seventh place.
Most rebounds in a single Olympics game
Caboclo had 15 points in the first half and then totaled 10 points in the third quarter before helping Brazil fend off Japan with eight more in the final stanza.
"Today we were really good as a team. And I was able to stay out there on the court. That was the main point. I was able help out my team more," said Caboclo, who struggled with foul trouble in the first two games.
"If I can stay on the court I think I can impact things. With my offensive ability I can help the team a lot. Even if I am not doing well on offense I can impact the defensive end of the floor with my wingspan." Thanks to the former NBA big man, Brazil finished Group B with a 1-2 record to lock up third place. There is still a chance that the South Americans can reach the knockout stage - with the top two third placed teams getting tickets for the Quarter-Finals in Paris.
Caboclo came into the Olympics on a high having been named as the TISSOT Most Valuable Player of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 Riga - Latvia. He averaged 17.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks.
He finally looked like that player again against Japan.
The 28-year-old scored just 6 points and 5 rebounds in Brazil's two losses to France and Germany. He did pick up 5 steals and 1 block, but he was only on the court for a combined 25 minutes as he had 4 fouls against France and fouled out versus Germany.
"I need to be more aware of my fouls. Even if I have to let the guy score, the most important thing for me is to stay on the court," Cabolco said about his fouls issue.
Brazil's veteran playmaker Macelinho Huertas said the team is so much stronger with the big man on the court.
"If he doesn't have foul trouble he gives so much to us at both ends of the court. He's a big threat on the three-point line, in the low post, going to the basket. Defensively, he covers so much space and helps everybody. Whenever he is in, it's a whole different game for Brazil," added Huertas.
Caboclo, Huertas and the rest of Brazil now have to wait and see if they can stay in France and make the move to Paris for the Quarter-Finals.
FIBA