Amaury Pasos obit

International basketball legend Amaury Pasos of Brazil dies at 89

 

He was not on the list.

Amaury Pasos was synonymous with championships, winning two of the first four FIBA Basketball World Cups ever staged.

MIES (Switzerland) - The basketball family has lost one of its all-time greats following the death of Brazil legend Amaury Pasos.

A 1.91M (6FT 3IN) power forward from Sao Paulo, Amaury was one of the key men in Brazil's most successful era of the international game, during which the team won the FIBA Basketball World Cups in 1959 and 1963.

He was named the MVP in 1959. Amaury was a member of the FIBA Hall of Fame Class of 2007.

Amaury was an incredibly gifted athlete, which showed whenever he was on the hardwood, taking Brazil to new heights in basketball. As a youngster, he competed in the youth categories as a swimmer and he also played volleyball, participated in track and field and water polo.

A three-time Olympian (Melbourne 1956, Rome 1960 and Tokyo 1964) and member of four Brazil teams that played at World Cups (Rio de Janeiro 1954, Santiago de Chile 1959, Rio de Janeiro 1963 and Montevideo 1967), Amaury was just 18 when legendary Brazil coach Tolo Renan Soares (aka Kanela) called him into the reserve side for the national team.

"It is with deep regret and a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Amaury Pasos, 89 years old, one of the greatest basketball players in history, an eternal idol for generations and one of ours forever!" - Basketball Brazil

The next year, Amaury, a good shooter and excellent defender, not only made the Brazil team for the second World Cup held in Rio de Janeiro but started. The team finished runners-up.

In 1959, Brazil had its breakthrough moment in the third edition of FIBA's flagship event in Santiago, Chile, under coach Kanela. Amaury was the MVP of the event, having averaged 13.1 points per game.

The 1963 World Cup winning team in Rio, which was still coached by Kanela, was arguably the best. There was Pasos, who averaged 17.7 points per game, along with small forward Wlamir Marques, the MVP of the tournament. This incredible team also had center Ubiratan Pereira.

Amaury was born in Sao Paulo in 1935, but his parents were from Argentina. They had left their country due to the political situation there but returned when Amaury was 5. He remained in Argentina until he was 16. He had a deep affection for the country.

The Brazilian Basketball Confederation paid tribute to Amaury in an Instagram post (above), which translated says: "It is with deep regret and a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Amaury Pasos, 89 years old, one of the greatest basketball players in history, an eternal idol for generations and one of ours forever!

Amaury is history. Amaury is basketball!"

Amaury left behind his family, grandchildren, and closest relatives in the early hours of Thursday in São Paulo, leaving behind an immense longing but the certainty that his legacy and achievements are ETERNAL! Two-time world champion with Brazil, two-time Olympic medalist with the National Team, FIBA ​​Hall of Famer and MVP of a World Cup!