FIBA Basketball World Cup Legend: 'Bira' The Great
MADRID (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Maciel "Ubiratan" Pereira is a hallowed named in Brazilian sports. A player who stood 1.99m in height, the Sao Paulo native competed as a power forward and center during his brilliant career, one that was marked by success with clubs and his country. With Brazil, Ubiratan reached the top of the podium at the ...
MADRID (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Maciel "Ubiratan" Pereira is a hallowed named in Brazilian sports.
A player who stood 1.99m in height, the Sao Paulo native competed as a power forward and center during his brilliant career, one that was marked by success with clubs and his country.
With Brazil, Ubiratan reached the top of the podium at the 1963 FIBA World Championship in Rio de Janeiro.
Four years later at the FIBA World Championship in Uruguay, Ubiratan poured in 15.9 points per contest and offered stout defense as the Brazilians finished third behind the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia.
At the 1970 FIBA World Championship in Ljubljana, Ubiratan again led Brazil as they came in second place, averaging 14.6 points per game.
The host nation, Yugoslavia, captured the gold medal that year.
On the books of Venezia in Italy's top flight at the time, one of Ubiratan's most impressive performance in Ljubljana was against the Azzurri in Brazil's second game of the tournament.
He erupted for 27 points and Brazil needed every one of them as they scraped a 94-93 victory.
No matter what the competition, Ubiratan was a major player.
A star who would contribute in a myriad of ways, he helped fire Brazil to South American titles in 1963, 1968, 1971, 1973, 1977, won an Olympic bronze medal in 1964 and celebrated Pan American Games gold in 1971.
Even now, leading Brazilian players talk about Ubiratan.
"He was the player that everyone wanted to come to the gym and watch," said national team guard Leandro Barbosa.
"He sold many tickets…do incredible things on the court and everyone enjoyed (seeing him play)."
Ubiratan was inducted posthumously into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2009, and the following year into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The President of the Brazilian Basketball Confederation (CBB), Carlos Nunes, once said of the legendary player: "The extraordinary accomplishments of our basketball player Ubiratan left us full of joy and pride.
"Bira was an exemplary player, dedicated and brilliant, leaving an unforgettable mark on Brazilian and world basketball."
FIBA