Bauru set for Intercontinental Cup showdown with Real Madrid

IBIRAPUERA (2015 FIBA Intercontinental Cup) - Bauru are gearing up to face Real Madrid in the Intercontinental Cup, which tips off on Friday in the Ginasio Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo.

The two sides will square off again on Sunday at the same venue.

Bauru are the 2015 champions of the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas.

"They are the champions of Europe for a reason," Bauru sharpshooter Robert Day said.

"It's the same team that they had last season, so they have chemistry and rhythm."

They'll be two tough and well fought matches - Robert Day

Day will be a player that Real will have to keep an eye on because when he gets into a good shooting rhythm, not many players are better.

In a Liga Sudamericana win last November over Brazilian rivals Uniceub BRB, Day drilled 10 of 12 shots from behind the arc and had 32 points.

What makes Bauru especially dangerous for Real is the ability of the club's big players to step outside and hit three-pointers, too.

Among them is 2.07m Jefferson, a stretch four.

He is excited about the prospect of facing Real.

"We have prepared ahead of time, because it is important for us and for the history of basketball in Bauru," Jefferson said.

"It will be a difficult task, but we will fight to the end to achieve the goal."

Pablo Laso, the Real Madrid coach, knows one of the Bauru players very well.

Rafael Hettsheimeir was a player at Real Madrid under Laso a few years ago and helped Real win the Liga Endesa.

He has had a good time seeing his former teammates like Rudy Fernandez and Felipe Reyes.

A club from Brazil won the Intercontinental Cup last year.

Flamengo were the defending FIBA Americas League champions and they beat the 2014 Euroleague winners Maccabi Tel Aviv.

FIBA