CUB - Brazil gain confidence in friendly series defeat to Cubans

HAVANA (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament For Women) - Cuba's women beat their counterparts from Brazil 3-1 in a friendly series staged in Havana from March 10-14.

In a clash of countries that will attempt to book places at the Beijing Olympics in June, the Cubans reigned supreme.

Brazil, whose European-based stars are unable to link up with the group until after the South American Championship that will be staged in May in Ecuador, impressed their coach César Guidetti.

He said: "The objectives of those friendlies were achieved.

"We were able to get the athletes more and very helpful experience of playing against a national team of a high level."

This Brazil squad will take part in the South American Championship from May 23-29.

"The team worked collectively, despite the short period of training," Guidetti said.

"We showed a good standard of the game, mainly on our fast-breaks. We are going to improve more the defense."

In the fourth and final game, Cuba led only 37-31 at half-time before sealing a 73-58 triumph with Oquendo leading the winners with 19 points.

One of the rising stars of Brazil, Natalia, had 15 points in the final game.

"It was a very beneficial experience for me and I believe that for everyone, especially the newcomers in the team as I am," Natalia said,

before admitting the games had a lot of intensity.

"For the Cubans, there is no such thing as a friendly," she said. "A game is a game.

"We came here expecting to face an aggressive, strong team, one of a high level, and that will be very helpful for the coming challenges."

Indeed, the Cubans finished runners-up to the USA at last year's FIBA Americas Championship for Women.

"We were nervous in the first game but afterwards, we gained confidence and did not we have any fear of facing them."

The FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women will be staged from June 9-15 in Madrid, and both of these sides could end up meeting each

other in the quarter-finals.

Brazil are in Group C along with Spain and Fiji, while Cuba are in Group D with Belarus and Chinese Taipei.

FIBA