BRA - Marcelinho stars as Brazil clinch South American title

CARACAS (South American Championship) - Brazil will go into the FIBA World Championship on a high after adding the 2006 South American title to the FIBA Americas crown they claimed last year.

The Verdeamarelos, who squeezed past arch-rivals and defending champions Argentina 74-72 in the semi-final, demolished Uruguay 92-61 in Sunday's final in Venezuela to secure their 17th continental triumph. The star of the show was DKV Joventut guard Marcelinho Huertas, who strengthened his claims for a place in Aluisio 'Lula' Ferreira's squad for the World Championship with a team-high 19 points - as well as five assists and three rebounds - in a man-of-the-match performance.

Huertas said: "We have a young squad who always believe in working hard."
Huertas was ably assisted by Murilo Becker and Arthur, who added 13 and 12 points respectively, as Brazil cruised to the win many were forecasting before the match. Caio Torres also poured in 12 points for the winners.

Murilo added: "It was a deserved title for the players and the technical staff, who have been focused on this goal from the very beginning. People made Argentina and Venezuela the favourites, but we competed against those favourites and demonstrated that we had a serious and determined squad."

Leandro Garcia, with 19 points, was the top scorer for Uruguay, who saw Atlanta Hawks centre Esteban Batista add 14 points. Argentina, who won the title in 2004, claimed the bronze medal after defeating hosts Venezuela 95-78 and third/fourth-placed play-off.

The Olympic champions, coached by Sergio Hernandez, had the match's top scorer in Boca Juniors star Paolo Quinteros (24 points). Leonardo Gutierrez, the only gold medal-winning player from the Olympics in this squad, contributed with 17 points. Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Venezuela have already qualified for the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship, to be played in Venezuela.

The other nations to have qualified are the USA, Canada, Panama, the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Mexico.

Meanwhile, Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina will be the South American representatives in the 2007 Pan-American Games, to be played in Rio de Janeiro.

PA Sport
Exclusively for FIBA