BRA – Teams ready for start of FIBA Americas Championship for Women

CUIABÁ (FIBA Americas Championship for Women) - The moment of truth has arrived for tournament favorites Brazil and the other teams in the Americas hoping to earn trips to the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Women.

The Brazilians are hosting the FIBA Americas Championship this week, the qualifying event for next year's big event in the Czech Republic, and Paulo Bassul's side opens its campaign against Puerto Rico on Wednesday night.

Before that, Chile take on Cuba and the Dominican Republic go up against Canada while the final game of the evening is between Venezuela and Argentina.

The top three sides will join Olympic champions Team USA as the Americas squads in the FIBA World Championship.

Helen, who has returned to the national team set-up for Brazil at the age of 36, said: "For me, no matter what competition, what matters is that I'm defending my country and I love doing that.

"The goals today are to get Brazil to the World Championship and to be the winner of the FIBA Americas Championship in Cuiabá.

"The group is close to this goal and that's why we are here and have trained for so long, to get to the top step of the podium."

It's not all about Brazil. 

Cuba narrowly missed out on a place at the Beijing Games when they lost to Brazil at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Madrid last summer.

"I think we are well prepared for the competition," Suchitel Avila said.

"We have come to a great show on Brazilian soil to secure a place at the World Championship.

"We hope to reach the final and compete for the title with Brazil."

Chile believe they have a chance to do something special as well.

"We are pleased to be here in Brazil for the FIBA Americas Championship," Chile's Tatiana Keshler said.

"The teams taking part are strong and will make for hard games. 

"We will try to play our game and try to achieve the best place possible in the standings."

FIBA