With a dominant performance, the Brazil national basketball team routed Colombia 104-80 in Cali, finishing the first round of the Qualifiers with a perfect record.
The Brazil men’s national basketball team finished the first round of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers with authority. Playing in Cali, the team coached by Aleksandar Petrovic ignored the hostile crowd and defeated Colombia 104-80, cementing their undefeated lead in Group C with six wins in six games.
The triumph reaffirms the excellent momentum of the national basketball program, which is now preparing for the challenges of the second stage of the competition. Having already punched their ticket to the next phase, Brazil enters the upcoming stretch feeling strong as they prepare to face the continent’s giants, aiming to maintain the relentless pace that has defined their journey so far.
Dominance on the court
From the opening tip-off, Brazil’s superiority was evident. The team set a fast pace, winning the first quarter 33-21. Bruno Caboclo was the undisputed protagonist of the period, finishing the first twelve minutes with 100% shooting accuracy. Under the guidance of Yago Santos, Brazil went into halftime with a comfortable 68-39 lead.
Although Colombia attempted a comeback in the third quarter, led by Braian Angola, Petrovic‘s strategy of slowing the game down quickly dashed any hopes of a turnaround. Brazil regained control and managed the score until the final 104-80, demonstrating tactical maturity.
Standouts and the future of the Qualifiers
Point guard Yago Santos was the game’s top scorer, posting 26 points. Alongside him, Bruno Caboclo (19 points), Reynan Gabriel (18), and Didi Louzada (13) were the pillars of the victory. For Colombia, Hansel Atencia and Braian Angola were the most combative, each contributing 14 points.
Starting in August 2026, the competition level rises. Brazil will face the teams that qualified from Group A — the United States, Dominican Republic, and Mexico — in a home-and-away format. With points from the first round carried over, Petrovic‘s squad is aiming for direct qualification to the World Cup in Qatar, which will be decided during the windows in August and November 2026 and February 2027. The top three teams in each group, plus the best fourth-place team overall, secure their spot in the elite of world basketball.
