ZAGREB (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers) - Brazil face an enormously important next window in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers and veteran guard Vitor Benite said the team is counting on the support of the home fans to secure two huge home victories.

Going into the up-coming window, Brazil find themselves in third place in the Group F standings with a 6-2 record - one game behind joint leaders Canada and Venezuela and with one win more than Dominican Republic. Knowing that defending the home court is of the utmost importance in the qualification campaign, that makes the two home games against Dominican Republic and Canada on November 30 and December 3, respectively, that much more crucial.

"The next window is really important for us, especially because it’s in our house," Benite said. "We have to pack the arena and make a good impression to our fans because I do believe we have a great chance to come up with two victories. But it’s all in the way that we approach every game, and I hope the fans are there to support us and I think it will be a really good show for everybody - for us the players and the spectators."

Vitor Benite and Anderson Varejao at Brazil's most recent home game in the Americas Qualifiers on February 25, 2018 against Chile in Goiania. 

The 28-year-old guard said reaching China 2019 is the goal for the team, but that Aleksandar Petrovic’s men cannot get too far ahead of themselves - though Brazil want to keep alive their perfect record of never missing the FIBA World Cup.

"This is really important for the development of basketball in the country," said Venite, who plays his club basketball for Croatian side Cedevita Zagreb. "The Brazilian league is getting better every day, people are coming back to the arenas to watch games. So it's really important for the kids and the basketball itself that we are there and competing against the best nations in the world. I do think that Brazil deserves that and we will do it."

The last window saw Brazil lose 85-77 in Canada and the country was awarded a 20-0 victory at home over Virgin Islands after their opponents could not make the trip - something that will make the fans at home that much more excited about the up-coming window.

"The city (Goiania) and Brazil were really expecting a big show and the crowd was getting the tickets. But it’s something you can’t explain and we look forward to the next window and how it will be," Benite said of the up-coming games - both of which will be played in Sao Paulo.

Benite has played in all four of the windows and averaged 11.5 points, 2,8 rebounds and 1.5 assists in six games. And the wing thinks the team is doing a good job getting used to the new coach.

Aleksandar Petrovic has Brazil on the brink of securing a spot at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019.

"Brazil has been going through so many changes in the federation with the board of directors, president. We’re trying to do things differently, in a better way right now in Brazil. We have a new coach with a new philosophy. We’re changing generations so we have this mixture of older and younger guys. It all takes time to adapt and be better," Benite said. "From the first window to now, the team is a lot more solid, knowing the things we have to do on offense, the players we have to look for. Especially on defense how solid we have to be in these kinds of games and to understand the whole philosophy of what Coach Petrovic wants to put in the team and to make it work. We’re getting better in each window."

Now it’s time to step up with the home support and grab two victories and take a major step towards the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019.

Tickets for Brazil's game against the Dominican Republic and Canada are available here. 

FIBA