SAO PAULO (Brazil) - São Paulo FC is one of the best teams in the Basketball Champions League Americas. And we're not only talking about their good results, which accompanied them in the first window, but also about their great collective game.

"Morumbí's tricolor" is leading Group B, thanks to the two victories it achieved in Buenos Aires, against Universidad de Concepción (94-47) and Quimsa (75-72), in overtime.

The team's winning streak has a lot to do with pivot Lucas Mariano, who was part of the star lineup of the BCL Americas' first window and was chosen as the best player. "I'm very happy to have been chosen the BCL Americas' first window's MVP. I did not expect it. I always thank God for the opportunities he gives me. In this case, I was able to help my team and I was chosen as the first window's MVP. My teammates had a lot to do, they helped me in my game and they believed in me, I gave my best and we managed to win, which is the most important thing," said the player who averaged 21.5 points and 10 rebounds.

In the next window of the international tournament, which will take place in Concepción (Chile), they will play against Quimsa on March 5 and against the locals, Universidad, on the following day. "I believe they will be tougher matches. The first encounters were exciting; against Quimsa, we went to overtime. But now, the matches will be harder. They're two teams we know because we've already played against them, so they know how we play and we know how they play. Now, we'll have two divided matches, the definition will be in the details. We're preparing to have a good first match against Quimsa, and then, a good match against Universidad, who will have a different preparation now that they know us. We have to maintain our trust, play our basketball, and we'll win," said Mariano.

São Paulo also has a good present at the NBB. With a record of 17 wins and 4 defeats, it's in the third place, after Flamengo and Minas. "We're going through a great streak in the National League and in the BCL Americas. It's the first time São Paulo participates in a continental tournament. We hope we'll surprise everyone, play a good basketball and achieve the goal, which is to reach the finals and, God willing, to win the title for São Paulo," concluded the big man.

FIBA