Helio Rubens Garcia, Helinho, spoke with “Basketball Sphere” about the Brazilian national team and the upcoming FIBA World Cup.
As everyone knows, Brazil is a football country, but their history in basketball is really impressive. They won the FIBA World Cup twice in a row – in 1959 and 1963. They reached the final several times, and are also multiple bronze medal winners. In addition, Brazil managed to win the Pan American Games six times and AmeriCup on four occasions.
Helinho, the assistant in the coaching staff, spoke about all this and the FIBA World Cup 2023 in an interview with Basketball Sphere.
The history of Brazil in world basketball
This is exactly what Helinho, the assistant coach of this national team, talked about at the beginning of the conversation with Basketball Sphere:
“It is a pleasure and an honor for me to represent my country. I played for Brazil in 1998 and 2002, at the Pan American Games in 1999 where we won gold in Winnipeg. It was an honor for me. I love being here and I want to help as an assistant.”
About Yago dos Santos and what Crvena Zvezda fans can expect
“Yago is the type of player from whom you can expect everything. He has a strong mind, he is fast, he is a great shooter and playmaker. He can do everything on the floor and is getting better every day. Yago is very motivated before the World Cup 2023 and I am sure that he will be great at the championship because he loves these moments
As for the next season with Crvena Zvezda, there is no doubt that he will be great. Wherever he went people were very impressed with him because of the things he did. I love his game and I’m pretty sure he will mature more and more every day.”
Marcelinho Huertas
“Marcelinho Huertas is very important as a leader. He had one of the best careers I’ve seen. He played a lot across both in the NBA and Europe. Huertas brings us confidence and works very well to give his best at the World Cup”.
Opponents in the group stage
Brazil will play against Iran, Ivory Coast and Spain in their 19th appearance at the World Cup.
“Our group is very difficult, like any other. We have to be very concentrated in every game and play as we know. Brazil will concentrate mostly to play better defense than other national teams. We have to be smart at every moment of the game.”
Each team has a set goal in the upcoming tournament. It’s not a secret. For Brazil, it is to qualify for the second round.
“For us, the goal is to show ourselves as best as possible. We know that we are in a difficult group and that in the second group we will be among the favorites for a medal because they have many players from the NBA (France and Canada). We believe in our team, we have great players and we are very excited about the challenges ahead”.
The future is bright
“I think Brazil is working hard when it comes to basketball. The national team and the league are getting better. We are working on having as many players as possible so that we can choose the best ones to play for the national team.
I am very optimistic, the players know that it is their responsibility to work hard, and I think we will grow more and more as the years go by.” – concluded Helinho in a conversation with Basketball Sphere.