SAO PAULO (FIBA U17 World Championship for Women) - Brazil head coach Julio Cesar Patricio has insisted the talent pool he has to choose from ahead of the FIBA U17 World Championship for Women next month demonstrates that his group of players could be one of the very best.

"I'm very motivated for this new challenge and ever since 2012, I have kept the same words in relation to this generation," declared the play-caller.

"They have always achieved good results and these girls will bring great fruit for future selections as they are very talented athletes and one of the best generations that Brazil has ever had.

"We believe in the potential of them and knew they would reach the FIBA U17 World Championship, which is the pinnacle of their career at this time.

He added: "They have also always known the meaning of wearing the jersey of the team."

Brazil have been thrown into an interesting pool of teams which includes debutantes Egypt, along with Italy and Spain.

"Our first goal is to gain the best possible position during the first phase," said the coach.

"We must be among the first places in this new model of competition - any victory is important for us to reach our goal of making it to the final.

"Spain by tradition always arrives at the end of the championships.

"They are the current U16 European champions and won silver in the last edition of this tournament in the Netherlands two years ago.

"Italy were sixth at the last U17 FIBA World Championship for Women and in the top four last year at the U16 European Championship where things were pretty tight and showed teams are at more or less the same level.

"The technical level of the African teams has also improved greatly.

"We have watched the video of Egypt and they are a quick and rather combative group.

"We will respect all our opponents," concluded Patricio.

FIBA