BAURU (Liga Sudamericana) - Uniceub, Bauru, Defensor Sporting and Guerreros are taking aim at the last two spots on offer for the Semi-Final Round of the Liga Sudamericana with Group D tipping off on Tuesday in Brazil.

Bauru, who made it to the Final Four in last year's edition before falling in an 82-80 heartbreaker to Aguada, are hosting this week's action.

Brazil internationals Larry Taylor and Murilo Becker along with Ricardo Fisher, are key men still in the side that came up short last season and the squad is even stronger this year with the additions of Alex Garcia, Rafael Hettsheimer, Jefferson Andrade and Robert Day.

Alex, a long-time member of Brazil's national team, Taylor and Hettsheimer each represented Brazil at the FIBA Basketball World Cup this past summer and helped the country reach the Quarter-Finals.

"Playing at home, our objective is to finish in first place to theoretically have the best conditions in the next phase," said Bauru coach Guerrinha.

Defending Liga Sudamericana champions Uniceub of Brazil no longer have Alex but still have the veteran presence of Guilherme Giovannoni, the MVP of the 2010 event that Uniceub also won, along with Arthur Silva.

There are also the talented players Darington Hobson and Fulvio de Assis, who are sure to make a positive impact.

"We've had a significant change in the squad and we have to see how the team adapts to this new way of playing," said Uniceub coach Jose Carlos Vidal.

"With the addition of Fulvio and Darington, let's see if we can keep the style of game I like and evolved in the attack."

Uruguayans Defensor Sporting go into the event in buoyant mood.

The Montevideo outfit has won four of its six games in Uruguay's top flight and is in first place, with Anthony Dandridge, Justin Dobbins and Mark Cabot in fine fettle.

Colombians Guerreros de Bogota will like their chances of progressing because of the fine play of late from Venezuelan international Luis Bethelmy, as well as Curtis Withers and Thomas Tayron.

Malvin, Mogi das Cruzes, Comunikt, Boca Juniors, Winner Limeira and Argentino de Junin have already punched their tickets to the Semi-Final Round.

FIBA