RIO DE JANEIRO (U15 National team) - U-15 Brazilian Men's National Team - The family name is not the only thing that keeps together the twin brothers Leandro e Lucas Savacinne. They both share the same passion for basketball. The players took part of the second group of training camp of the Under-15 Brazilian National Team. The first stage was at the beginning of March, in Rio de Janeiro. The team is getting ready for the South American Championship in September, in Guanare, Venezuela.

Leonardo is forward, has 1,81m and plays for Cerâmica club in São Paulo. Lucas is power forward, has 1,80m and plays for Pinheiros, also in São Paulo.

"Since we were little we want to play any sport. The only problem is that we lived far way from the sports schools. We started to play basketball at Sesi and one day, a coach from Cerâmica invited us to play with him. The chance of teams worked and we learned a lot about basketball" said Leonardo.

"We played almost everything. We tried skate, table tennis, cycling like our father, but it was basketball that we liked most. Our parents encourage us a lot and that gives us straight to keep going. The practice with the Brazilian National Team was very tough, but we have learned a lot. This first stage had 43 players and we hope we had made a good job and come back in the next stages" added Lucas.

Two other players also prove that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. The forward Leonardo Simões Meindl is the son of Paulo César Reis Meindl Von Berger, who defended Brazil during the 80's. The forward/center Eduardo Guimarães Minuci is son of Fernando Minuci, who played for the Brazilian national Team from 1985 to 1996.

"My father always supported me in everything and to chose the same career just happened. Usually, I look tips and advices from him. The practice with the national Team is very hard and it was a very good learning process for me. We also had the visit of Moncho Monsalve, the head coach of the Senior National Team. He said very nice things about us and his presence during our practice encouraged us to always look for our best" said the 14 years-old and 1,91m player, Leonardo.

"I have always liked basketball. I used to watch my father playing and follow his steps was very natural. He was very happy with my nomination for the National Team. Yesterday, he was wearing the Brazilian uniform and now I have the same opportunity. The training camp was very important in physical and psychological point of view. And the fact that Moncho Monsalve came to watch our practices was very motivating. We can be working with him someday. I am going to work harder and harder to stay in this group and get at the Senior Team like my father" said the 14 years-old and 1,83m player, Eduardo.

The Under-15 Brazilian National Team will get together again at May 15th, in Rio de Janeiro, for the second part of training camp. The South American Championship is the first step to get to the FIBA World Championship U-17 in 2010.

Brazilian Basketball Federation