BRA - Anderson, Leandrinho ready to seize the day

RIO DE JANEIRO (Olympics) – It’s been a long time coming for Anderson Varejao and Leandro Barbosa, but the Brazilian duo have finally made it.

They’re going to be at an Olympic Games this summer, a Holy Grail-like experience for any sportsman and one that many of the greatest athletes do not partake in.

Anderson, a 2.11m power forward/center of the Cleveland Cavaliers whose season was cut short by injury, is healthy again and looking as if he’ll be at his best for the national team in London.

He’ll be fighting for rebounds and scoring on put-backs.

Anderson is vital for Brazil, and so is Leandrinho.

Having enjoyed a very good season after being traded from Toronto to Indiana, Leandrinho, coach Ruben Magnano will be hoping, will provide the same kind of offensive spark that helped Brazil play so well at the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

A shooting guard, Leandrinho firmly believes Brazil will have a good run in London.

“It’s a very strong selection which has a bit of everything in every position,” Leandrinho said.

“Everyone knows what to do and does it well.

“It’s a group that is training to win a medal at the Olympics.

“We know it won’t be easy, but we also know it’s not impossible.

“We really believe in the work of Ruben and the possibility.”

Brazil’s players have a lot of big tournaments under their belts.

Marcelinho Huertas and Tiago Splitter have been with the national side every summer since the 2006 FIBA World Championship.

“The players are still young, but have experience,” Anderson said.

“This is very important. It's great to have athletes playing in the NBA and in Europe, for example.”

Some opponents like Spain will have players that compete in the NBA, so the fact that Anderson and Leandrinho compete in that league too helps bolster the confidence for Brazil.

“This helps break the ice, since they will have several NBA players and we have an idea of how they play,” Anderson said.

The Olympics isn’t just about the games on the court, but the whole experience.

That is something that Leandrinho is very excited about.

“I think the opening ceremony, with the flag of Brazil there should be a wonderful thing,” he said.

“I think this is the dream of most of us, since we have never been to the Olympics.

“We have seen this party on TV, but to be there should be something totally different, with a sensational taste.

“There are a lot of people who try to get there and do not.

“It will be very good.

“And once there, of course, the perfect scenario would be to win a gold medal.”

FIBA