By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Brazil beat Uruguay, 100-53, at Anapolis, Goiania, kicking off the series of scheduled preparation games for the 2019 FIBA World Cup. Marcelinho Huertas and Anderson Varejao were rested by Aco Petrovic, but the available players managed to pick up the convincing victory.
“For our first prep game, we had a very positive outing. We started 18-2 with mostly young players on the court” Brazil’s head coach noted and went on: “We understand we will battle stronger teams in the World Cup. We have to play intensively every minute of the game, avoid relaxing even when securing a large advantage.”
Bruno Caboclo and Didi Louzada set the pace scoring 12 points in an early 18-0 run. Leandro Barbosa went off for a game-high 20 points and Vitor Benite followed with 19 points of his own. The Brazilians will face Uruguay again on Saturday at Belem in their second preparation game prior to the World Cup.
“We still have to make adjustments, but we were effective offensively” Didi Louzada pointed out and top scorer Leandro Barbosa added: “It was a solid team showing. I really enjoyed our performance. I feel like we are already in sync. We will be even more confident upon the start of the World Cup.”
Brazil is in Group F of the World Cup. Contests against New Zealand, Greece and Montenegro at Nanjing, China, will determine if the South American national team can advance to the second group stage instead of settling for classification matches.