What Mery Andrade Told Neemias After Celtics-Raptors Game

As Sunday night's game concluded, with the Celtics defeating the Raptors 115-101 at TD Garden for the fourth time this regular season, players exchanged customary post-game greetings. Near mid-court, former Portuguese international Mery Andrade, now in her third season as an assistant coach for Darko Rajakovic in Toronto, sought out Neemias Queta, a familiar ritual whenever their teams clash.

Despite the loss, Mery was all smiles and positive gestures, openly expressing her pride in the Boston center's performance.

A BOLA spoke with the former WNBA player about her post-game conversation with Queta. "Yes, I was complimenting Neemias on his performance. Yesterday [the day before], above all, his presence was strongly felt," she began.

"I told him I've been following his growth game by game and that he's playing at the high level this stage of the season demands. I also mentioned how incredibly proud I am of his development. Then, we wished each other good luck, and who knows, maybe we'll meet again in the postseason," Mery Andrade concluded, acknowledging the strong possibility of the Celtics and Raptors facing off in the playoffs.

An interesting fact in both their careers: when Neemias first attended the NBA Combine in Chicago in 2019, to be scouted by NBA teams as a candidate for the 2019 draft – he later withdrew his candidacy and returned two seasons later – Mery was participating in a league program designed to develop former players aspiring to become coaches. Neither of them stopped dreaming, and they continue to cross paths on NBA courts.