Jan 8, 2009, 1:11 am
Quote:BRA - Tavernari treasures national team experience with Brazil
SALT LAKE CITY (FIBA Americas Championship/NCAA) - Jonathan Tavernari loves the game of basketball and wants to play professionally one day.
But the 21-year-old Brazil international knows one can't play the game his entire life.
"The advice I would give to youngsters is that above all, it's important to learn that basketball is not forever and that there's life after playing," Tavernari said.
"To study, to be an educated person, be a family person are blessings God gives us.
"In order to be successful in the NCAA or in any other league, you need to make sacrifices and have a balanced life."
Tavernari benefitted from the absence of veteran players last summer when he played for Moncho Monsalve's Brazil at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Athens.
Established stars like Leandro Barbosa of the Phoenix Suns weren't able to play, and that opened the national team door for him.
He is now back in Utah for his junior year at Brigham Young.
"In the last year, I have grown a lot on defense," he said.
"I am a better man-to-man defender and I owe that to my experience in the Brazil national team in 2008. I had to improve a lot in order to be chosen by coach Moncho Monsalve.
"To train with Marcelinho, Alex and Duda motivated me to reach their level. I always admired Marcelinho and Alex. In order to improve, I have to guard great players and they teach me more."
Brazil were without some of their leading players and didn't make it to Beijing, but under Monsalve the national side looked like a team with a lot of promise and they should have enough firepower to do well at the FIBA Americas Championship in order to qualify for the 2010 FIBA World Championship.
Players like Tavernari were thrilled with the opportunity to compete in Athens.
"Joining the national team was a dream come true," he said. "Not only to train under Moncho, but to be able to be part of a group of players, coaches, trainers, doctors.... All of them were important for me. My first time in the national team was unforgettable.
"To play for the national team is an addiction. I have experienced it and now I want to always be there.
"Whether it is in the American Cup, the South American tournament, the World Championship - it doesn't matter which tournament. Whatever chance I have, I would like to wear the Brazil colors and represent my country."
At BYU, Tavernari feels right at home.
"I miss my family and friends but I speak a lot to them," he said.
"In my time off, I like to cook, go to the cinema and the theater. I am a home boy. I don't like to go out partying."
The experience in North America is very important for Tavernari.
"I came to the United States to be able to study and play," he said.
"My parents are involved in education and that is important in my family. Here we are student-athletes and at BYU, school comes first.
"My routine is hard. During the week, I wake up at 6am. I train from seven to eight. Then I have lessons from nine to midday. In the afternoon, I do my homework and then some muscular exercises and at eight, I meet my girlfriend."
Tavernari is majoring in business administration and plans to get a graduate degree in sports communication and administration.
BYU are certainly happy the Brazilian chose to attend their school for he has greatly contributed to the success of the team.
They are off to their best start in the league since 1987. The Cougars won all 10 of their opening games in the Mountain West Conference.
"I do my job," Tavernari said.
"My coaches and teammates know what to expect from me and they know I'm not going to disappoint them.
"My strong points are my passion for the game and my competitive spirit. Talent alone doesn't solve anything."
[url="http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/news/lateNews/p/newsid/29192/arti.html"]http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/news/late...29192/arti.html[/url]
. We can build a great team, capable of facing any opponent at the FIBA Americas Championship.ââ¬Â