Brazil vs Montenegro Preview: Vucevic Aims to Lead Montenegro to Opener Win, Brazil Rely on Neto and Caboclo

On July 2, the Olympic Basketball Qualifying Tournament in Latvia will kick off, with the Montenegro men’s basketball team facing off against Brazil.

The Paris Olympic Qualifiers feature 24 teams divided into four regions, with only the region champions advancing to the main Olympic event. In the Latvian region, teams include Latvia, Brazil, Montenegro, Cameroon, Georgia, and the Philippines. Latvia, the Philippines, and Georgia are in Group A, while Cameroon, Brazil, and Montenegro make up Group B. The top two from each group progress to the elimination rounds, battling for the final qualification spot.

Brazil’s 12-man roster for this tournament consists of De Paula, Matheus, Valters, Alves, Santos, Raul Neto, Silva, Dias, Cardozo, Caboclo, Christon, and Felicio. Familiar to Chinese fans are Neto and Caboclo, both former NBA players. Overall, Brazil follows a more traditional South American style, emphasizing speed and individual prowess.

Montenegro’s 12-player squad includes Perišić, Drobnjak, Popović, Slavković, Bojić, Jovanović, Ilić, Ladič, Hadžibejgić, Bačić, Simović, and Vucevic. Undoubtedly, Vucevic stands out as the star player, averaging 18 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game last season with the Chicago Bulls. His impact will be even greater in FIBA competition. As a former Yugoslavian team, Montenegro is known for its strong team cohesion.

Montenegro reached the Round of 16 at last year’s World Cup, pushing the USA to the wire in the Round of 16, demonstrating their strength. Brazil also had an impressive showing, defeating eventual bronze medalist Canada in the group stage. Both teams boast solid lineups. In FIBA’s rankings, Brazil sits at 10th place, while Montenegro is 11th, indicating a close match-up. Whoever emerges victorious in this encounter will likely advance to the elimination rounds, making this contest crucial for both sides.