RIO DE JANEIRO (FIBA World Championship for Women) - Making it to the FIBA World Championship for Women may seem like a long-shot for teenage forward Bianca Araujo, but with Brazil in a period of transition as they build towards hosting the 2016 Olympics, just being in the mix is a huge confidence boost for any candidate.

A couple of years ago, the now 18-year-old Araujo was competing at the FIBA U17 World Championship for Women in Amsterdam and after a couple of excellent seasons progressing her game with Santo Andre, she has been catapulted into contention for future major tournaments at senior level.

Handed a spot for the three-game series against Canada that took place from Thursday to Saturday in Edmonton - and which is forming part of the team's preparations for both Turkey and the South American Championship for Women - Araujo is still pinching herself at being selected. Indeed when she heard that she had been called up to the senior team and would be handed a debut, it proved to be an overwhelming moment.

"I have never jumped so much when I heard the news," she smiled.

"I am very happy and I even had to watch the Federation website many times just to check it was actually true.

"All my friends called to congratulate me, but the first person I spoke with was my mother - we hugged, wept and there was a lot of emotion.

"Expectations could not be better and I want to have some good games and to help my team do the best job possible.

"Although my debut games with the senior team also causes some anxiety."

Araujo already has a resume with important achievements at youth level including South American titles, as well as her time treading the boards at a global level in the Netherlands in 2012. Now she is focused on winning the approval of head coach Luiz Augusto Zanon and is delighted with the way the play-caller is casting his net as widely during the rebuilding process.

She said: "It is very good to make room for the newest players to gain some experience and it is good we have a lot of players wanting to show their potential.

"Every athlete dreams of reaching the Brazilian national team.

"The important thing is to have this space to show what each of us can do

"You can get a sense of how Coach Zanon is and I think he is great coach, but I confess that I am a little afraid of the mission as I want to make beautiful basketball, I want to pass him the confidence in my work.

"That's a big mission in the midst of so many talented people, but I hope we all do a good job together and I am confident that everything will be okay."

Stepping out in Edmonton during the games against Canada is seeing Araujo operating in tandem with Clarissa Dos Santos - something she confirmed is a thrill and she certainly intends to make the most of it.

"She will be a person who will surely help me a lot in the beginning," said Araujo.

"But I still have to do my own part to help and I'm sure I'll learn a lot with Clarissa.

"I want to see what she does and absorb all the tips she'll pass me. Just knowing that she is on my side will give me good security."

Despite her still tender years, it's been an amazing journey so far for the player who admits that basketball continues to transform her life.

"I started playing when I was 12 years old and at 13, I left home to go and live in club accommodation," she explained.

"It was not easy and I felt homesick, but with time I got used to it.

"The main thing was helping me make a better life for my family. We all worked with finding recyclable materials and basketball could help my mother and brother have a different destination (in life).

"Everything I do is for them and after my first pay-cheque as an athlete, I gave our home a makeover. As of today, we are almost there and the house is almost ready!"

Araujo also has her friend Israel to thank for quite literally dragging her to her local team - otherwise she may not have ever bounced a basketball at all.

She recalled, "When I was 12, my friend Israel insisted I go to to try out at the Santo Andre Club in Sao Paulo.
 
"He took me to the door of the gym and left, but as he he turned the corner I ran home. I wanted to try, but was too embarrassed to go out there.
 
"When I got home, he was there waiting for me. He was right. Took me back to the gym, I auditioned and was approved.

"Over time, I've fallen in love and now I can't live without basketball," concluded Araujo.

FIBA