BRA – Brazil ready to battle for place in Beijing

MADRID (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for women) - Brazil’s seasoned campaigner Erika De Souza doesn’t scare easily, so she wasn’t intimidated by Monday’s draw for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women despite the hard road that her team must travel to reach the Beijing Games.

The strong center, who stands 1.97m in height, has represented her country on numerous occasions and her experience will be vital if new national team boss Paulo Bassul is to coach in his first Olympics.

Brazil were drawn in Group C with Spain and Fiji, but the real test will come in the quarter-finals where they are likely to face Belarus or Cuba from Group D.

The quarter-final winners take four of the five spots still on offer for Beijing.

"We know that if we progress to the quarter-final round, there is a good chance we could meet Cuba, a team we know very well having played against them at the FIBA Americas Tournament,” Erika said to FIBA.Com.

“They are tough opponents but we know nothing will come easy if we want to make it to the Olympics."

Bassul is very popular among the players and one reason why is that he exudes confidence.

"The Pre-Olympic tournament has six national teams with great chances of taking the five spots for the Olympics, four of which are European, one which is Brazil and the other Cuba,” he said.

“Latvia and the Czech Republic practically have a foot at the Olympics.”

Latvia and the Czech Republic were draw in Groups A and B, respectively, and do look to have easier paths to China with the Latvians draw with Senegal and Japan and the Czechs taking on Angola and Argentina.

“Regardless of who finishes first or second in the group (Group C),” Bassul continued, “we will face a tough opponent in the quarter-finals.

“The Cubans and the Belarus side are at the same level and that is the game that really interests us.

“We have all the right ingredients to go to Beijing.”

A leading Brazilian who played at the Athens Games, Iziane, couldn’t help but discuss the hurdles her national side must clear to return to the Olympics.

"It wasn't the best draw for us,” she said.

“Spain is a tough opponent and will have home court advantage but we have good chances of defeating them.

“What really interests us is how Group D finishes as both Cuba and Belarus are very strong.

“We will give everything we have to win our games and clinch the passport to the Olympics."

FIBA