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Today, he is instrumental for Brazil, a contender for one of two spots in the 2008 summer Olympics in Beijing. Following his FIBA Americas 2007 debut with the Brazilian National Team, Splitter spoke to NBA.com.
Do you think the first game against Canada was harder than you expected?
Splitter: We started the game strong. We had a big 10 point advantage that we later lost. I think that it was a lack of concentration, but the general balance was good. Considering it was the first game, a win was very important.
Was this a game to break the ice?
Splitter: Yes, that’s important. I remember the World Championships in Japan. We lost the first game and then everything went downhill from there. So it’s always good to start with a win, on your right foot.
Is there a lot of pressure for Brazil to secure one of the two spots for the Olympics?
Splitter: Yes, very. Everyone, even the press in our country, is asking us to win. It's not good for Brazil to be out of the Olympics and, for the sport to continue growing, we need to make it to the Olympic Games.
What is your goal for the first round of the tournament?
Splitter: Well, we are here thinking that we will qualify to the Olympics, that’s our intention for this tournament. If we have a good first round, then we’ll gain a lot of confidence for the next several games.
What did you learn from Japan?
Splitter: Japan was bad for us. We were playing against a strong group, with good teams. We had tough moments during the games and we just didn’t know how to win. We think things will be different this time around. The team has players with a lot of experience, with important roles in the teams for which they play, and they will contribute to our National Team.
Did the last minute withdrawal of Anderson Varejao and Rafael Araujo affect the team?
Splitter: Well, we weren’t expecting it. But then again, now we have Nene on the team and I’m sure he’s going to increase his level of play throughout the tournament. This is the team that we have and we are still a solid group.
From one to 10, what’s Brazil’s level of play right now?
Splitter: I think it’s a seven. We are at a good point but we still have to improve.
There are talks about this team making it big on the global scale at some point. What do you think about that?
Splitter: Yes, it’s true. We have very good individual personalities, talented players, and it’s just a matter of demonstrating our potential on the court by winning a title, playing in the Olympics and proving big things.
Do you feel you relied too heavily on Leandro in the first game?
Splitter: Yes, a little. He started playing really well, especially in the third quarter, it was good for the team offensively, but, in the end, we all pulled together and made the necessary efforts to win the game.
