BRA - Brazil aim high with Magnano
ISTANBUL (2010 FIBA World Championship) - Ruben Magnano has not been with Brazil long but the legendary Argentinian coach has already made a big impression at the 2010 FIBA World Championship. Starting with two convincing wins over Iran and Tunisia in Istanbul, the Green and Gold side put a dominant USA Team on the ropes in their third game of the ...
ISTANBUL (2010 FIBA World Championship) - Ruben Magnano has not been with Brazil long but the legendary Argentinian coach has already made a big impression at the 2010 FIBA World Championship.
Starting with two convincing wins over Iran and Tunisia in Istanbul, the Green and Gold side put a dominant USA Team on the ropes in their third game of the tournament.
Brazil conceded a 70-68 defeat but delighted the crowd with an exhibition that few will forget.
"The game against Team USA was an example of confidence, of credibility in the things that can be achieved in a challenging tournament as is a World Championship," said Magnano exclusively to FIBA.com.
"The credibility that exists in the team is a good thing for us right now because the players of this national team, and they know it, are the mirror of the structure of Brazil."
"This type of performance is very good for Brazilian basketball."
The South Americans had something to prove after losing all but one of their games at the World Championship in Japan four years earlier.
Since then, many of those players have made huge strides for clubs and country.
Brazil clinched gold at the FIBA Americas Championship last year while stars Tiago Splitter and Marcelinho Huertas led Caja Laboral to the Spanish ACB title this season.
"The thing that really impacted me from them, despite the fact that I have seen Tiago and Marcelinho play in Spain for Caja Laboral, is the degree of humility these players have to continue to learn," said Magnano.
"The degree of humility they have to listen and to watch and to bring something to the team, whether technically or tactically."
"The two of them have the capacity to read a game like few can and that helps to improve the team."
"If I had to define it in a way, they bring the European touch to this national team."
Brazil had already shown some European flair under the guidance of Magnano's predecessor, Moncho Monsalve, who visited with FIBATV.Com on Wednesday.
Under Spaniard Monsalve, Brazil won the FIBA Americas gold in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
"I have no doubt in my mind that what Moncho (Monsalve) did was very good," said Magnano. "To watch Brazil compete in Puerto Rico and see that national team working towards the aim of showing what type of basketball Brazil intends to play was good. Personally, I have that idea of basketball, one that is tactical, with emphasis on strong defenses. From then on, I saw a path and we hope we can continue on that road. We hope that each of us can contribute to that."
Magnano, who coached (Italy's Lega A side) Pallacanestro Varese and (Spain's ACB side) Cajasol in Europe before returning to coach in Argentina, revealed e was stunned to be handed the Brazil job.
"The truth is that I was surprised to be offered at the time to guide the new project of the Brazil national team," said the 55-year-old.
"The Brazilian federation executives were very convincing when they expressed their ideas about this project while not talking about immediate results."
"They want to see Brazil's basketball maintain its level in time."
"They spoke about trying to achieve something for Brazil not only in the national team but in all of the structure of Brazilian basketball and I really liked that. It was appealing and even coming from Brazil, it made me proud. It was even a boost in confidence for me."
"To have accepted this offer is a great challenge for me."
It's easy to see why Brazil chose Magnano.
He guided Argentina to silver at the 2002 World Championship, in a tournament which saw them become the first team to beat Team USA in official competition.
Argentina would go on to lose the Final in overtime against the former Yugoslavia.
Magnano also led them to gold at the 2004 Olympic Games.
"That Argentina side arrived to where it did because of the high level of compromise shown by the players and the coaching staff," said Magnano. "All that talent and the players' understanding that they had to come one step down from the pedestal they had where they come from (at club level), where they are megastars, in order to be at the service of the team."
"That was the key for Argentina to be a great team today and to maintain itself in time since 2001."
Magnano has not been able to watch Argentina play at this tournament so far.
The Albiceleste, who are without star Manu Ginobili, lost Andres Nocioni to injury on the eve of the tournament.
"The truth is I have not watched them play because with training and games," said Magnano. "I have seen their stats."
"I dedicate the little spare time I have to look at the rivals we have in our group."
"I did see them play in Spain before the tournament. I think Argentina has also suffered many adversities and that day by day their performances will improve, I have no doubt of that."
Magnano's side has also faced some setbacks before the tournament.
The Brazilians lost Nene to a muscular injury while Anderson Varejao missed the opening three games with an ankle problem.
"What I would like for us is to rapidly forget all the adversities that we had with injuries," he said. "I would have liked for the team to have had more synergy 15 days ago, where we had to clear hurdles, having to change players' positions and not being able to advance in our preparation."
"But these are things that happen and that every team has to deal with."
"We are here to compete, to show what our idea of basketball is, what our degree of compromise is and look ahead."
"You cannot come to this type of tournament with fear or doubts."
As for the tournament, Magnano has been impressed by some teams, including hosts Turkey.
"It has been a tournament of surprises so far," he said. "I watched Turkey play against Greece and they were impressive, a team that looked unstoppable."
"That was the same concept I had when I watched Team USA crush all of their rivals before we gave them a close game."
"There have been surprising results but everything changes from one day to the next."
"I believe Team USA will be in the Final of the World Championship. Turkey are looking very good and they are boosted by the home fans. They have a very important physical and psychological strength. Spain, provided they can survive their negative start, could pull out a surprise. I think they have the quality to do so."
"They have the talent and those players have played together for some time so there is a chemistry in the team in order to aspire to win the title again."
"Argentina can also be a candidate."
Judging from their performance against USA, Brazil should not be ruled out either.
Magnano, who knows what it takes to win major tournaments, believes many things have to fall into place in order to be crowned champion.
"There are many variables," he said. "But the most important thing is to have talent above all and for that talent to be at the service of the team.
"We know perfectly well that the sum of talents does not guarantee you success.
"But if that talent has high aims and is used for the service of the team, the possibility to succeed opens up much more. This is not achieved from one day to the next but with time."
It is for that reason that Magnano is not getting carried away by his team's positive showing so far.
"As soon as the game finished against Team USA, I focused on our next game against Slovenia," he said. "Let's not forget we lost against USA and even though that game had special value, we still got no points out of it and wins is what is important in these tournaments."
FIBA