Brazil internationals lead the charge for Bauru

TUNJA (FIBA Americas League) - Six teams are in the Semi-Final Round of the FIBA Americas League, two more are about to join them.

The last weekend of the opening round of the competition will be contested this weekend in Tunja, Colombia, and among the sides taking part is a powerhouse Bauru team that has already won the Liga Sudamericana.

Bauru, which boasts an exciting Brazil national team trio of Alex Garcia, Rafael Hettsheimer and Larry James Taylor, are favorites to take one of the Semi-Final Round spots up for grabs in Group D.

Bauru have plenty of weapons.

One of them is marksman Robert Day, a player that hit nine three-pointers in a row in a 95-87 win over defending champions Uniceub BRB on 11 November.

Day finished that game 10 of 12 from long range.

Hettsheimer, a 2.08m center, will be the main man in the low post.

With Brazil at the FIBA Basketball World Cup, he had his chances to shine.

He brings a lot of experience to the table, not only with the games played for Brazil but with years in Spain's Liga Endesa where he played for CAI Zaragoza, Real Madrid and Unicaja Malaga.

Hettsheimer has logged plenty of minutes in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague in recent years.

Having left Spain for the Brazilian league, Hettsheimer says the staging of continental tournaments is crucial for the development of basketball in South America.

He also says something else is very important.

"In Europe, they work well with young people, with continental tournaments in the smaller categories," Hettsheimer said. 

"I think the club tournaments also help to improve the level of professional basketball. 

"In America, it still needs improvement, but we are in a very good way and with high level teams."

Hettsheimer, 28, who appeared in six of Brazil's seven games at the World Cup, says the Intercontinental Cup berth that is at stake also adds some spice to the FIBA Americas League.

The winners will play in the Intercontinental Cup later this year against the winners of the Euroleague.

"That makes it worth every effort to win," Hettsheimer said. 

"For me, it is a new challenge in my career and I hope to play a positive role and help my team get good results."

Bauru do not want to settle for just one big continental title.

All of their big guns, including Alex, Taylor, Day and Hettsheimer, can look back and smile when they remember what happened in the Liga Sudamericana.

To make the season even sweeter and to allow Bauru to go down as perhaps one of the greatest teams in South American history,  they will need to also have success in the FIBA Americas League.

Bauru are the big favorites heading into Group D play, with Capitanes de Arecibo of Puerto Rico, Trotamundos of Venezuela and Patriotas of Colombia also involved.

Venezuela international shooting guard David Cubillan plays for Trotamundos.

FIBA