BRA - Elbow injury knocks Barbosa out of Pan-American Games

RIO DE JANEIRO (Pan-American Games) - Brazil guard Leandro Barbosa will miss the Pan-American Games after injuring his elbow while playing for the Phoenix Suns in the NBA play-offs, according to his brother.

The Suns lost 4-2 to the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference semi-final series, and after the final game, Barbosa headed to the operating table for surgery on his left elbow.

The Brazilian Basketball Confederation is still waiting for news from the Suns on the results of the operation, but his brother has said it will prevent Barbosa from playing when Brazil host the Pan-American Games in Rio de Janeiro from July 25-29.

"He doesn't have time to recover before the Pan-American Games," Artur Barbosa told globoesporte.com. "According to the doctors, the injury is in a very delicate area and the time needed for recuperation is almost two months."

That would also put Barbosa's chances of playing in the FIBA Americas Championship in further jeopardy - Barbosa's participation had already been in doubt over insurance issues. That tournament tips off on August 22.

Barbosa looked to be off his game in the San Antonio Series, averaging 11.3 points per game compared to 21.2 ppg in the games against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. During the regular-season, Barbosa averaged 18.1 ppg.

"He should not have played in the NBA play-offs, but he did not want to lose those games," Artur Barbosa added. "In the first game against the Lakers he played well, but in the second he felt a terrible pain.

"At that moment, no-one said anything about his injury as they did not want to give anything away ahead of the San Antonio series."

Brazil will play in Group B at the Pan-American Games, against Puerto Rico, Canada and the Virgin Islands.

The United States are in Group A along with Argentina, Panama and Uruguay.

Gabriel Batalla
FIBA