Author: Monojit Mandal
In exciting news for basketball enthusiasts, the Brazilian men’s national basketball team has received the go-ahead to take part in the next Pan American Games, scheduled for the end of October in the vibrant city of Santiago, Chile. With the long-awaited tournament on the horizon, coach Gustavo de Conti revealed the list of 12 exceptional athletes who will wear the colors of Team Brazil and compete with passion on the courts of Santiago, Chile’s capital.
Team Brazil’s return to the Pan American Games in Chile is extremely important, and coach Gustavo de Conti left no doubt about his team’s ambition. “Brazil will be competing in the Pan American Games in Chile, a crucial competition for Team Brazil.” We are aware of this and will work tirelessly to regain the title of Pan American champion, as we did in 2015 in Toronto” said coach Gustavo de Conti.
This tournament is made even more intriguing by the fact that it takes place outside of the regular FIBA calendar, allowing the coach to rely largely on the skills of the athletes currently playing in Brazil’s local basketball league. The Pan American Games in Santiago will feature eight powerful teams, including Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Panama, Argentina, Chile and Venezuela. These teams will be divided into two groups of four, a crucial stage determined by a draw scheduled for September 22. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals.
Brazil has a distinguished record in basketball at the Pan American Games, securing six gold, two silver and six bronze medals in the men’s competition, a feat second only to the United States. His adventure began with his first gold medal at the Cali Games in 1971, and his most memorable victory was in Indianapolis in 1987, when he beat the USA on their own field. Brazil’s most recent championship came in 2015 in Toronto, when they beat the host country in a dramatic gold medal match.