BRA - Marcelinho doesn't have doubts about his brother:

SAN JUAN (FIBA Americas Championship) - Brazilian sharpshooter Marcelinho Machado is going thru a special moment by playing with his brother, Eduardo, nicknamed Duda, at the 2009 FIBA Americas Championship.

"I am very happy to be in the national team, it is a big honor for me. Now I will play with my brother and it is something special. I am going to enjoy this moment in the national team with great player and it is special that I am there," said Marcelinho who is 34 years old.

Marcelinho has seen his brother, called "Duda", develop as one of the best guard for Flamengo Rio de Janeiro in the Brazilian national league where he won the title and also they were at the top of Liga Sudamericana in a dominant form.

"He is doing a good job with Flamengo. Moncho has recognized him and gave him the opportunity to be with the national team this year. Duda is going thru the right road but he has to continue working because there are good players like Fulvio, among others waiting," added the player who has over 100 official games of experience with the national team.

Duda averaged 10.9 points and 3.7 assists with Flamengo who only lost two games in the regular season, but his brother understands that he needs to improve to play at a high level.

"He needs continuity, experience to have a more solid game. In Brazil we play different from the national team and it is tough to change. A little bit of more regularity is needed."

The 26 year old guard is very happy to make the final cut and is taking advantage of every opportunity to put it into play at the FIBA Americas Championship.

"I am happy to play for the national team in a very important competition for my country in a very special occasion that doesn't happen very often. I am taking advantage of it to earn more experience," said Duda.

"Moncho tells me that I have to continue working on my movements because sometimes I attack too much and that is not good internationally. The experience is very good for me and I want to help as much as I can. I am going to play along with guards like Marcelo Huertas and Leandro so I will give it all in the minutes that I play."

Luis Modestti
FIBA Americas