BRA – Moncho says Brazil will make it to Turkey for 2010 FIBA World Championship

RIO DE JANEIRO (FIBA Americas Championship) - Brazil coach Moncho Monsalve has thrown down the gauntlet to the other national sides taking part in the FIBA Americas Championship in Puerto Rico later this year.

The stakes will be high for the countries competing in San Juan with places at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey up for grabs.

“There are 10 teams that will battle for four spots and Brazil will clinch one of them," he declared.

At Tuesday’s draw in San Juan, Brazil were drawn in Group B with Argentina, Cuba, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic.

“If we are able to have all the players available, we have enough talent to guarantee ourselves a place in the World Championship and conquer the Americas title,” Monsalve said.

“We want to play with creativity on offense, moving the ball.

“We need to guarantee rebounds on defense.

“This is my philosophy and how basketball is being played right now in the world.”

Argentina are number one in the FIBA World Rankings, and Monsalve knows they will have a good team.

“The Argentina coach Sergio Hernandez will not have (Manu) Ginobili, (Fabricio) Oberto, (Andres) Nocioni, but he will have other players of international level at his disposal,” Monsalve said.

“I believe Venezuela will go with a better team than with respect to last year. The Dominican Republic have talent with Francisco Garcia and Charlie Villanueva among others.

“Then there are great national teams like Canada and Puerto Rico.”

Brazil played at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament last summer in Athens under Monsalve but did not have NBA players Leandro Barbosa, Nene or Anderson Varejao.

The team failed to reach the Beijing Games.

FIBA