Edson Bispo

Center player Edson Bispo played in a time when Brazil was among the strongest basketball nations in the world. In 1959, he averaged 11 points a game at the World Champions when Brazil won the title (he did not play when Brazil defended its title four years later). He won further international medals at the 1960 and 1964 Olympics (bronze) and the Pan American Games of 1955, 1959 (both bronze) and 1963 (silver), and two titles at the South American Championships (1958, 1960). In his club career, he played for Vasco da Gama (Rio), Corinthians, Palmeiras and Hebraica (all São Paulo). In the 1970s, Edson Bispo enjoyed a successful spell as the national team coach. He led his team to gold at the 1971 Pan American Games and the 1973 South American Championships. He led his team to a 6th place at the 1974 World Championships, but narrowly missed qualification for the 1976 Olympics, after which he resigned as a coach.