Brazil legend Wlamir Marques helped lay foundation for FIBA Intercontinental Cup with 51-point explosion for Corinthians
RIO DE JANEIRO - Legendary players have had jaw-dropping performances at the FIBA Intercontinental Cup.
With AEK Athens, Austin Spurs, San Lorenzo de Almagro of Argentina and Brazilian powerhouse Flamengo set to play in the next edition in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, February 15-17, fans will recall how some of the greatest players graced the hardwood and had unforgettable efforts.
Wlamir Marques was certainly among them.
The Brazil legend, who had been the MVP of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 1963, in Rio, after leading his country to the top of the podium, showed up two years later in Sao Paulo to take part in what can be viewed as the forerunner of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup and made headlines.
Marques had 51 points in the 1965 win over Real Madrid
Marques, suiting up for the Corinthians side that had won the South American Club Championship, squared off against Real Madrid, the winners of the FIBA European Champions Cup, and had 51 points in his team's 118-109 triumph.
It was a seminal moment in Brazilian basketball history with more than 10,000 fans jammed into the Ginásio Poliesportivo Parque São Jorge to witness the impressive individual performance.
"No 1º dia de treinamento dessa equipe, eu fiz uma palestra pra eles. [...] Eu falei pra eles [...] tive 10 anos de Corinthians e todos eles foram assim. Essa camisa você não precisa ganhar ou perder jogo. Você precisa ter sangue. Você precisa sangrar a camisa"
— Café Belgrado (@ocafebelgrado) June 23, 2018
Wlamir Marques pic.twitter.com/vkpB2hQsf5
The test game was such a hit that the first official FIBA Intercontinental Cup was staged the following year in Madrid.
Marques added another great chapter to his career with his performance. He had also been the third leading scorer at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 1959 when it was staged in Santiago, Chile, and Brazil won their first title in the competition.
He also played for Brazil at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 1970 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Marques and Brazil reached that Final, too, but finished second to Yugoslavia.
The impact of Marques on the Brazilian game and the FIBA Intercontinental Cup was so profound the Ginásio Poliesportivo Parque São Jorge was renamed the Ginásio Poliesportivo Wlamir Marques.
Antes da bola subir para a estreia do #Timão em casa pela Liga Ouro, uma justa homenagem a Wlamir Marques, lenda das quadras e que dá nome ao ginásio alvinegro!#VaiCorinthians#BasqueteCorinthians pic.twitter.com/MSdgX1gkxL
— Corinthians (@Corinthians) March 8, 2018
Last March, Corinthians, the club he suited up for from 1962-1972, retired his No. 5 jersey.
As a blogger for ESPN Brasil, Wlamir Marques wrote about his 51-point game. You can read (in Portuguese) what he had to say here and here.
FIBA
