"We're Used to Playing Without Neemias Queta Now"

Rafael Lisboa and Francisco Amarante spoke exclusively to A BOLA about Neemias Queta's absence from yet another national team training camp, and their words were identical: "We're used to playing without him now."

Currently handling new contract formalities, the Boston Celtics player was not authorized to travel to Portugal. National coach Mário Gomes expressed complete understanding of the situation: "Those are the rules. If he already had a guaranteed contract, this wouldn't have happened, and he could be here. But one thing is undeniable: it's good for Portuguese basketball, it's good for the National Team, it's good for all of us to have a player in the NBA. Now, like everything in life, this doesn't just have advantages. We have to live with the reality."

Despite acknowledging, like Rafael Lisboa and Francisco Amarante, that "the team is stronger with Neemias," the coach affirmed that his players' work ethic must remain the same: "We will work the same way we have been working when we don't have him. Of course, when we do have him, we can do things a little differently, but it doesn't cause any added difficulty because it's become the norm."

"Of course, the team is stronger with Neemias, just as Greece is stronger with Giannis Antetokounmpo. We know that. However, we've played most of our qualifiers without Neemias, haven't we? And this won't be any different. If we advance to the second phase, we'll play 12 qualifying games, 10 of them without Neemias. It is what it is. We know Neemias always wants to come whenever he can, and he also knows we always want him here," the coach concluded on the matter.

Rafael Lisboa stated that the national team will "fight without him, and when he can return, they will welcome him with open arms to help again" with great enthusiasm, as he is a "game-changing player."

"Neemias is a pillar of our national team. He's a standout player who helps us a lot, and his absence is felt. However, we've also shown that, unfortunately, his absence is always more prolonged than his presence, and we are prepared to play this way," Francisco Amarante, in turn, acknowledged.