Caboclo excited about return to Brazil national team, sets sights on China 2019

SAO PAULO (Brazil) - Almost two years since he last played for Brazil, Bruno Caboclo is set to sport the "Seleção" jersey again.

The 23-year-old, who is on the books of the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies, made the announcement on Instagram on Wednesday.

View this post on Instagram

Foto de responsa!!! Muito legal o encontro com o nosso "coach" Petrovic e o diretor da CBB @marcelo.sousa11 ,em Memphis ha algumas semanas atras...e o melhor, tudo claro e resolvido!! 🏀⛹ Muito feliz e orgulhoso em poder voltar a Seleção Brasileira!! Quero agradecer o presidente @guypeixotojuniorque tornou tudo isso possivel. Conte sempre comigo presidente!! #TMJ Uma nova história se inicia!!🏀 @fiba #FIBAWC

A post shared by Bruno Caboclo 🏀 (@brunofive) on Apr 24, 2019 at 6:58pm PDT

Caboclo took to social media after meeting with Brazil head coach Aleksandar Petrovic.

"Excellent meeting with our coach Petrovic and CBB [Brazil Basketball Confederation] Director Marcelo Souza in Memphis a few weeks ago," Caboclo wrote on Instagram. "And the best part [is that] everything is cleared and sorted out!!!. I am very happy and proud to be able to return to the Brazilian national team!! I want to thank [CBB] President Guy Peixoto who made this [meeting] possible. Count on me, President!! A new era is starting."

With this year's FIBA Basketball World Cup in China just a few months away, Petrovic and CBB travelled to the USA to meet with the three Brazilians currently playing in the NBA. As well as Caboclo, Petrovic met with Utah Jazz playmaker Raul Neto and Chicago Bulls big man Cristiano Felicio.

"It's been great meeting with the three players, who showed commitment and availability for the national team," the Croatian play caller said.

"I'M HAPPY ABOUT THESE MEETINGS. RAUL NETO, CRISTIANO FELICIO AND BRUNO CABOCLO ARE KEEN TO PLAY FOR BRAZIL AT THE WORLD CUP IN CHINA. THIS IS GREAT."- Petrovic

The decision ends a fallout between Caboclo and the Brazil Basketball Confederation (CBB) that dates back to the FIBA Americup 2017 in Colombia.

At the time, Caboclo refused to re-enter a game against Mexico after being subbed out in the first quarter. The federation announced it wouldn't tolerate indiscipline in the group and decided to leave the 6ft 9in (2.07m) forward out of Brazil's national team commitments with immediate effect.

Caboclo apologized immediately after the game.

Bruno Caboclo, através do seu Instagram reativado, se desculpando pelo episódio com a seleção brasileira ontem. pic.twitter.com/2213Yvwb2Y
— Camisa 23 (@camisa_23) August 27, 2017

Caboclo joined the Grizzlies on a 10-day contract in late January and impressed enough - setting career highs in all statistical categories - to earn a multi-year deal.

At the World Cup, Brazil will play their Group F campaign in Nanjing where they will take on Greece, New Zealand and Montenegro. Petrovic admitted the team will need to be at its very best.

"I'm happy about these meetings, they showed that Raul Neto, Cristiano Felicio and Bruno Caboclo are keen to play for Brazil at the World Cup in China. This is great. It's also an important development to shape our team, which will face a tough task. We will need to be at our maximum strength."

FIBA