BRA – Brazil women brimming with confidence after latest title

CUIABÁ (2010 FIBA World Championship for Women) - The Brazilian women's national team could not be in a healthier state of mind with the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Women less than a year away.
 
Paulo Bassul's team, which included veterans Alessandra and Helen for the first time since the summer of 2006, went undefeated at last month's FIBA Americas Championship.
 
They beat Argentina 71-48 in the gold-medal game and will thus arrive at next year's big event in the Czech Republic with a big feather in the cap.
 
"We achieved all the goals," Bassul said.
 
"The strength of our work and our togetherness allowed us to overcome criticism after the friendlies.
 
"This group is great and works, too. All are to be congratulated."
 
Sometimes, a national team struggles when it hosts a major event but the Brazilians thrived in an electric atmosphere.
 
"Everything worked very well," he said.
 
"It was amazing to see the gym packed with over 12,000 people (at the final), pushing us from the start. I'll make a play with our sponsor, Eletrobrás. The crowd became very good energy (for Brazil) on the court and it was essential for the victory."
 
Blending in youth with experience was an experiment that worked.
 
Youngster Silvia Gustavo said: "We, the younger ones, were only able to shine with the support and assistance we received from more experienced players, like Helen, Alessandra and Adrianinha. They always supported us. And I am very happy to be part of this wonderful group."
 
Bassul's mind is constantly in overdrive when it comes to tactics and he couldn't help but remember the difficulties Brazil faced against Argentina in a battle of unbeatens.
 
Eduardo Pinto's team had stifled the Brazilian offense in the first quarter, limiting it to just seven points.
 
"They have a differentiated system, with a little marking normally used, which cordoned off our top athletes," Bassul said.
 
"And that caused others to stand out in the game."
 
Indeed, Silvia averaged 6.2 points per contest at the FIBA Americas Championship but had a game-high 18 in the final.
 
Brazil, silver-medal winners Argentina and bronze-medalists Canada all qualified for the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Women.
 
FIBA