BASKETBALL::It's all about fitness says Clovis Haddad.

Izabella Sangalli (BRA) - 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship for Women   SAO CARLOS (FIBA Americas Championship for Women/FIBA World Championship for Women) -Brazil have been putting their senior women through their paces this week to get ready for the Sao Carlos international tournament. The opponents will be Puerto Rico's national team, a side that like Brazil is warming up for the FIBA Americas Championship for Women in Xalapa. The prominent figure in the training sessions has been Clóvis Haddad, the physical trainer. "The goal is to improve the performance of the team during the three games," Haddad said," in addition to increasing the (team's) speed, balance and flexibility. "We've not been starting from scratch, just continuing (the preparations). "The work on strength and endurance is necessary for the group to remain uniform. "So, from this observation, we will proceed with the preparation because our goal is to achieve the best physical shape for the FIBA Americas Championship." Izabella Sangalli, one of the stars in the Brazil team that competed at the FIBA U19 World Championship for Women in Lithuania, has been working out with the team in San Carlos while Sport Recife players Franciele do Nascimento and Tatiane Nascimento have not been available this week. After the Sao Carlos International Tournament, Brazil coach Luis Zanon is going to make his final cuts for the FIBA Americas Championship for Women, which tips off on 20 September. Brazil squad: Carina dos Santos Martins, Clarissa Cristina dos Santos, Damiris Dantas do Amaral, Debora Fernandes da Costa, Fabiana Caetano de Souza, Fernanda da Costa Bibiano, Isabela Ramona Lyra Macedo, Izabela Morais de Andrade, Jaqueline de Paula Silvestre, Joice dos Santos Coelho, Maria Carolina Ferreira de Oliveira, Patrícia Teixeira Ribeiro, Taina Mayara da Paixao and Vanessa Fausto Goncalves. FIBA