Brazil go back to the future with Castro Marques

SAO SEBASTIAO DO PARAISO (2015 FIBA Americas Women's Championship) - Brazil have opted to bring former standout star Iziane Castro Marques back in from the cold for the 2015 FIBA Americas Women's Championship.

After an absence of five years from major tournament action and now 33-years-old, Brazil will welcome back a player with WNBA experience and huge firepower that was once the driving force behind the team.

Castro Marques was famously released on the eve of the 2012 Olympic Games in London and has not featured since, so it came as a surprise and a major headline when head coach Luiz Augusto Zanon opted to turn back to the veteran guard.

"After the Pan-Am Games, we felt the need to strengthen the group to compete in the FIBA Americas Women's Championship,” explained the play-caller.

The return of Iziane is a result of the work plan for this competition. - Zanon

Brazil finished in fourth place in Toronto and will also be boosted by the addition of another player with WNBA experience in Nadia Colhado.

While Castro Marques returns, Brazil have lost the experience of Erika Souza and Adriana Pinto, while Damiris Dantas won't play in Edmonton next month (9-16 August) either - with all three having played at the FIBA Women's World Championship last year.

At the other end of the spectrum, there was another intriguing twist to the roster announcement after 15-year-old rising star Izabella Nicoletti Leite was also announced on the list.

She is rated as one of the best young prospects in the Americas and will get a chance to step out with the senior team well ahead of schedule.

The teenager has been rewarded for her sensational displays at the recent FIBA Americas U16 Women’s Championship where she poured in a stunning 21.4 points per game to help take Brazil to a famous win against USA in the Semi-Finals.

"She has good potential and it is a great opportunity for her," Zanon said.

"Izabella is a future athlete in the transitional process."

Brazil finished third at the last edition of the FIBA Americas Women's Championship.

The Brazil roster for the 2015 FIBA Americas Women's Championship: Nadia Colhado, Debora Da Costa, Jaqueline de Paula, Karina Jacob, Gilmara Justino, Iziane Castro Marques, Taina Mayara Da Paixao, Izabela Nicoletti Leite, Isabela Ramona, Izabella Sangalli, Kelly Santos, Patricia Teixeira Ribeiro.

Go to fiba.com/Americaswomen2015 for complete coverage of the 2015 FIBA Americas Women's Championship.

FIBA