BRA - Brazil begin tournament preparations

JUNDIAI (FIBA U21 World Championship for women) - Brazil's U21 squad have begun training ahead of the FIBA U21 World Championship for women in Moscow.

Under the guidance of head coach Luiz Claudio Tarallo, the players will train in Jundiai's Romao de Souza gymnasium until Friday.

Tarallo says that during this time he will be able to see the condition of the players ahead of the tournament.

He told the Brazilian Basketball Confederation's official website: "We'll play two friendlies and we'll train in terms of tactics too."

One of the most experienced players in the squad, Jaqueline Silvestre - who played in the last FIBA Americas Championship with the senior squad - is expecting to play at her first world championship.

She said: "Training is hard, because a world championship is a very big responsibility, especially because we were runners-up in the last tournament.

"The group is united because it will be the third competition with the same group of players."
The tournament will take place from June 29 to July 8, with Brazil drawn in Group B alongside Spain, United States, Japan, Hungary and Australia.

Belgium, Canada, China, France, Mali and hosts Russia contest Group A.

Brazil squad: Daiane Daleaste (Unimep/Piracicaba), Izabela Morais (Ourinhos), Djane Santos (Sport Recife), Monah Pegorari (Labette Community College, USA), Clarissa dos Santos, Ivana da Silva (both Fluminense), Julia Pereira Santos (BCN/Finasa), Thais da Silva (Faenza, Italy), Priscila dos Santos, Juliana Campos, Eliene Honorio (all Sao Bernardo), Juliana Castro, Tatiane Balbino, Franciele Nascimento, Jaqueline Silvestre, Jessica Torres, Joice Rodrigues, Lais de Souza, Roberta Fogaca (all Divino/COC/Jundiai).

FIBA