This year's lineup might as well be known as Brazil's redemption team.

After bombing out from the nightmare that was the FIBA Americas Championship last year, Brazil has managed to receive one of four wild cards for the World Cup of Basketball at the end of the month.

Certainly, with lady luck smiling their way, the Brazilians won't waste the chance for a podium finish, and lift the country's hopes. While basketball isn't as big as football in Rio de Janeiro, the team would want to leave a good impression on the nation that suffered its worst defeat in the history of football at the recent FIFA World Cup.

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Coach Ruben Magnano is pulling all stops to make sure the Flamengo, as the Brazilians are called, won't cause give their nation another heartache.

The lineup should be enough reason why there are a lot of good vibes on the team.

For one, the team convinced hotshot Marcelo Machado to come out of international retirement to suit up with Brazil once more. So has Marcus Vieira, whom Machado teamed up to bring the FIBA Americas League and Brazilian League double titles.

Then, the big shots from the NBA are coming back as well. Leandro Barbosa, Nene, Tiago Splitter, and Anderson Varejao are suiting up for the national team after begging off due to injuries.

Of the four, Splitter made significant improvements in his game, as he helped the San Antonio Spurs to a championship at the last NBA season against the Miami Heat.

There's also Marcelinho Huertas, who is the starting point guard for the Flamengo. Huertas carried his Barcelona team through rough stretches en route to the Liga Endesa championship in Spain.

Four years ago, Brazil had a talented roster, but they managed to reach the Round of 16 only, facing their archrivals Argentina. Boy did Argentina break Brazil's heart.

With Luis Scola erupting for 37 points, Argentina dashed the dreams of Brazil advancing into the quarterfinals with a 93-87 victory over their neighbors.

The defeat broke Brazil so much that Huertas was in tears as he left the court.

Heartbreak aside, the team is indeed Brazil's ticket to redemption. They are in Group A, battling hosts Spain, Serbia, France, Iranm and Egypt.

TagsFIBA World Cup of Basketball, FIBA World Cup, Spain