×
30 August, 2014
14 September
Marcelinho Huertas (BRA)
24/06/2014
News
to read

BRA - Marcelinho still making his mark with national team

BARCELONA (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - History is going to smile favorably on Marcelinho Huertas for what he's been able to accomplish on the basketball court.

The fans love him in Spain, where he plays professionally for Barcelona, and also back home in Brazil where supporters know him as a lynchpin in the national side.

It's hard to imagine there every being a Brazil squad in which the 1.90m Marcelinho is not dribbling the ball up the court, fist raised in the air and shouting out the name of a play because the Sao Paulo native has been an ever-present in the national team since the 2005 FIBA Americas Championship.

Every year, his importance to the team grows.

Games with his club teams are hugely important to Marcelinho, as he recently showed in a performance for the ages in Game 5 of the Spanish Liga Endesa Semi-Finals at Valencia.

He scored 22 points and handed out nine assists while also hitting a tough shot at the buzzer for a 77-75 Barcelona win.

Nothing comes close to the feeling of having the Brazil shirt on, though.

He'll be with the national team this summer at the FIBA Basketball World Cup when Brazil compete in Group A against hosts Spain, France, Serbia, Egypt and Iran.

"There is nothing more exciting than to be able to play in a big tournament here in Spain," Marcelinho said to FIBA.com.

"I think for all of us, it will be a great experience, but also a big chance to do something important with the national team, so I couldn't be more excited."

Marcelinho has had highs and lows with Brazil.

In 2009, he helped fire the team to a FIBA Americas Championship title in Puerto Rico.

The following year in Turkey, he walked off the court in tears after Brazil's last game at the FIBA World Championship.

His 32 points hadn't been enough in a 93-89 defeat to Argentina in the first knockout round.

In 2011, the veteran was instrumental in the Brazil side that finished runners-up to hosts Argentina at the FIBA Americas Championship, a result that allowed the national team to qualify for the Olympics for the first time since 1996.

After a Quarter-Final appearance at the London Games, though, a shorthanded Brazil lost all four games at the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship and needed a wild card to take part in this year's World Cup.

"We had a tough summer, a team with a bunch of young players, unknown players worldwide," he said.

"Others (more established players) couldn't come for their own reasons and we had a tough year.

"It was really disappointing not being able to qualify but luckily, thanks to the history of Brazil and all those international tournaments we got the invitation.

"So we're fortunate to be able to show what we are capable of."

There is no doubt that when it's all said and done, Marcelinho is going to be remembered as one of his country's most important and beloved players.

He shows up for duty each summer and plays a mesmerizing style of basketball.

"I hope that I can be there, part of this elite group of players in such a huge country in which basketball is getting bigger and bigger," he said.

"For me, it's such an honor so I hope I can give my best for the Brazilian national team as long as I can."

FIBA