They had the best point guard in Europe, Marcelinho Huertas, who once dropped 11 dimes on Team USA with U.S. president Barack Obama, his wife Michelle, and Vice President Joe Biden in attendance.
But they were missing all of their big guys, including NBA players Nene, Anderson Varejao and Tiago Splitter, and the result was worse than anyone could have imagined.
With a loss to Jamaica on Tuesday on the final day of the first round of the FIBA-Tournament of the Americas, Brazil finished 0-4 and was eliminated from contention for the World Cup in Spain next summer. They will still have a spot in the 2016 Olympics as the host team.
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More from FIBA.com:
Jamaica pulled the biggest upset yet at the FIBA Americas Championship on Day 5 by defeating traditional powerhouse Brazil 78-76 and eliminate them from the race for the four places on offer for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Akeem Scott hit a pair of free-throws with four seconds left in the game to seal Jamaica’s first win of the Qualifying Round and guarantee their place in the Second Round. Samardo Samuels ruled the floor with 21 points and Weyinmy Rose had 16.
Vitor Benite and Caio Torres had 12 points each to pace Brazil, who finished with four losses and no wins. It is the first time they have been eliminated in the Qualifying Round of the FIBA Americas Championship.
In the first game of the day, the Dominican Republic (2-2) advanced to the Second Round by clinching fourth place in Group B with an 83-54 win over Paraguay (0-4). The game finished prematurely as there were four minutes left on the clock when a massive power outage struck Caracas – and other places in Venezuela – leaving “El Poliedro” Coliseum without electricity for a while.
All 12 players for the Dominican Republic got on the score sheet, with 17-year-old Karl Towns leading the way with 16 points and Elpidio Fortuna had a dozen.
Gustavo Araujo was again the leading scorer for Paraguay with 26 points but despite his best efforts, they fell to their fourth defeat and joined Brazil in being the other team eliminated.
Argentina (3-1) claimed first place in Group B by handing Mexico (3-1) their first defeat,98-78.
NBA star Luis Scola came alive with 25 points and Selem Safar had 18 for the South Americans.
Atlanta Hawks big man Gustavo Ayon had a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds and Hector Hernandez had 21 points for the Mexicans, who finished second in the group, ahead of Venezuela (2-2).
In the last game of the day and to close out the Qualifying Round, Canada looked good in a 93-67 win over Uruguay.
For the Canadians, Andrew Nicholson had 18 points and Cory Joseph finished with 17.
Bruno Fitipaldo hit six three-pointers on his way to a team-high 18 points for Uruguay.
Wednesday is a rest day and the Second Round gets underway on Thursday.
The Second Round sees the four teams that advance from Group A face the four teams that advanced from Group B.
For full and in-depth coverage of the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship, go to the official website http://www.caracas2013.com/en/default.asp?lang=en.
(CHECK OUT OUR COMPREHENSIVE EUROBASKET ’13 PREVIEW BY SH.com INTERNATIONAL EDITOR A.J. MITNICK)
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