By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
BELGRADE, Serbia – In the past few days, in the stands of Belgrade Arena there was some Brazilian support for the Basketball Champions League MVP of the Season.
As Marcelinho Huertas first took out Vassilis Spanoulis’ Peristeria and then came up short against Unicaja Malaga for the silver medal, his countrymen Bruno Caboclo and Yago dos Santos – respectively with Partizan and Crvena Zvezda this season – came to support him and Unicaja‘s Augusto Lima.
Moments after the end of the Final Four, the 25-year-old talked with Eurohoops about the competition. “It was great because I saw my friends, Marcelinho [Huertas] and Augusto [Lima], and other good players. Me and Bruno [Caboclo] played in the BCL Americas [with Flamengo and São Paulo]. It’s perfect, I love basketball and competition like this”, he first said.
Having the opportunity to catch up with some familiar faces in Serbia was another story. “In my city Belgrade, Marcelinho [Huertas] and Augusto [Lima]’s families are here. I know them, I’m happy for both of them”, he also commented on his two countrymen.
Finally, he touched on what Marcelinho Huertas means to him. “He’s my idol. I practiced with him when I was 16 I practiced with him in Paulistano, and now I play with him in the national team. He’s a good guy, good friend, and the MVP. That’s it”, Crvena Zvezda‘s guard said with a big smile.
PHOTO CREDIT: 2023 FIBA World Cup