Erika in the mix as Barbosa names preliminary squad for Olympics
RIO DE JANEIRO (2016 Rio Olympics) - Powerhouse center Erika is in line for a return to the Brazil team for the 2016 Olympics after being named in an 18-strong preliminary squad by head coach Antonio Carlos Barbosa.
| Brazil 18-player squad for 2016 Rio Olympic Games | |||
|
Adriana Moises Pinto Mafra |
Barbara Generoso Honorio |
Clarissa Cristina dos Santos |
Damiris Dantas do Amaral |
|
Erika Cristina de Souza |
Gilmara Justino |
Isabela Ramona Lyra Macedo |
Iziane Castro Marques |
|
Jaqueline de Paula Silvestre |
Joice Cristina de Souza Rodrigues |
Karina da Silva Jacob |
Kelly Santos Muller |
|
Nadia Gomes Colhado |
Palmira Cristina Marcal |
Patricia Teixeira Ribeiro |
Soeli Garvao Zakrzeski |
|
Taina Mayara da Paixao |
Tatiane Pacheco Nascimento |
||
A 34-year-old pivot on the books of the WNBA's Chicago Sky, Erika last played for the national team at the 2014 FIBA Women's World Championship. That side struggled but did manage to knock off 2013 FIBA Asia Championship winners Japan. Erika had 12 points and 11 rebounds in that triumph.
A Chicago teammate of Erika's, Clarissa Cristina dos Santos, is among the 18. The 28-year-old is averaging 4.8 points and 4.2 rebounds in 16.4 minutes per game for the Sky, who have gotten off to a 2-4 start.
Veteran guard Adriana Pinto is also among the headline names in the group. The 37-year-old is expected to earn a place in the final squad and play at an Olympic Games for the fifth time in her career.
Brazil recently won the South American Women's Championship in Barquisimeto, beating hosts Venezuela in the Final. The triumph put the national team players in a good mood but Barbosa knows that much tougher games await the side at the Olympics.
"We kept the 15 players who started the preparation for the South American Championship and have added Clarissa, Damiris and Erika," Barbosa said. "We do not have a fixed date for the (next) cuts and everything will depend on our needs. Anyway, we will have a reduced number of 13 for the trip to France."
Brazil will travel to France to take on Les Bleues in a couple of friendlies later this month.
"The friendlies in France will be two important games in late June that will give us an idea of what the level of our team is," Barbosa said.
"It is a national team that has chances of a medal since it got second place at the last Olympics. We believe that France will be in the Rio 2016 Games for the technical quality of their selection and the fact that they are competing in the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT) at home."
The WOQT will be staged in Nantes, France, 13-19 June.
Brazil will play in Group A at the Olympics with Australia, Japan and three of the teams that come out of the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
FIBA
