BRA - Raulzinho takes game to new level

SAN SEBASTIAN (Olympics) - Last year, Raulzinho looked across the Atlantic at Spain and wondered if one day, he might follow in the footsteps of so many of his compatriots and compete in the Liga Endesa.

There have been some good ones, including Marcelinho Huertas of Barcelona and former Baskonia star, Tiago Splitter.

Other Brazilians have found their homes in Spain, too, like CAI Zaragoza's 25-year-old center Rafael Hettsheimeir.

Anderson Varejao of the Cleveland Cavaliers played for Barcelona before he launched his NBA career several years ago.

Knowing all of this, it was a big deal for Raulzinho when Lagun Aro GBC offered him a chance last summer to join their team.

The son of a former Brazil international, Raul Togni Filho, Raulzinho says he realized a dream when he ran onto the court to play in Spain’s top flight for the first time.

The experience has helped his game, too.

"I'm improving," Raulzinho said to FIBA.com.

"Marcelinho Huertas told me I was going to improve and I have.

"I think it has been the best decision I've taken and I'm very happy.

"The ACB (Liga Endesa) is a much higher level than where I played in Brazil and I'm learning a lot."

Lagun Aro appear to have made a very wise decision when they pursued Raulzinho, who travelled as a teenager to Turkey with Brazil and played at the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

There have been stretches of games in Spain in which he has surprised opponents with his clever play on both sides of the court.

He has great court vision, passes well and also has the ability to put a lot of points on the board very quickly, as he did in a game against Blusens Monbus at the end of last month when he poured in 13 points in one nine-minute stretch.

There is no question that he has won the trust of Sito Alonso, who was Ricky Rubio's last coach at Joventut Badalona a few years ago before the Spanish international left for Barcelona.

Alonso has played the Brazilian an average of 18 minutes per game.

The move to the Liga Endesa has probably boosted Raulzinho’s chances of returning to the senior team in time for the London Games.

"There's still some time to go before the Olympics," he said.

"I think there's a chance and all the players want to be there.

"It's possible. Last year I was training with them but at the last minute, I was cut.

“I think there's a good chance I'll be there."

Instead of playing at the FIBA Americas Championship for the team that reached the Final, Raulzinho travelled to Riga, Latvia, and played for his country at the FIBA U19 World Championship.

He led the team in scoring at 14.5 points per contest, shooting 54.2% (32 of 59) from inside the arc and 24% (six of 25) beyond it.

The playmaker had a jaw-dropping performance against Russia when he poured in 20 points and drilled three of his five attempts from long range, and he was rock solid in a clash with rivals Argentina with 11 points, eight assists, eight rebounds and two steals.

Raulzinho averaged a team-high 4.1 assists in Riga.

Changes off the court

Now that he is in Spain, Raulzinho doesn't just have to adjust to a different game, but life off the court.

The bond among the Brazilians in the Liga Endesa helps him feel right at home.

He talks often with his compatriots, even though they play for different clubs.

"I speak to Marcelinho, Rafa Freire of Alicante and Rafael Hettsheimer," Raulzinho said. 

"We speak often because we have trained together."

By choosing to play in San Sebastian, he moved to one of the most beautiful cities in Spain but there has been an adjustment in terms of the weather.

"It's quite cold in San Sebastian in comparison to Brazil but I'm very happy," he said.

Brazil’s prospects

Raulzinho remembers the Abdi Ipekci on the 30th of August, 2010.

That was the day when Brazil played Team USA in a memorable group clash that the north Americans won, 70-68.

Whether he makes the trip to London or not for the Olympics, he thinks the Brazilians will be a team to look out.

"I think Brazil has the potential to be at the top," he said.

"In Turkey in 2010, we played against the United States and we played well, we almost won.

"I think Brazil has the chance to do well at the Olympics."

FIBA