Vítor Benite

Vítor Alves Benite (born February 20, 1990), commonly known as Vítor Benite, or simply as Benite, is a Brazilian-Italian[1] professional basketball player who currently plays for San Pablo Burgos of the Liga ACB.[2] At a height of 1.94 m (6'4 12") tall,[3] he plays at the shooting guard position. He also represents the senior Brazilian national basketball team.

Vítor Benite
No. 8 San Pablo Burgos
PositionShooting guard
LeagueLiga ACB
Personal information
Born (1990-02-20) February 20, 1990
Jundiaí, Brazil
NationalityBrazilian / Italian
Listed height6 ft 4.5 in (1.94 m)
Listed weight194 lb (88 kg)
Career information
NBA draft2012 / Undrafted
Playing career2008–present
Career history
2008–2009Pinheiros
2009–2011Franca
2011–2012Limeira
2012–2015Flamengo
2015–2018UCAM Murcia
2018Cedevita
2018–presentSan Pablo Burgos
Career highlights and awards
  • FIBA Intercontinental Cup champion (2014)
  • 3× Brazilian League champion (20132015)
  • 2× Brazilian League Sixth Man of the Year (2011, 2015)
  • Brazilian League Revelation Player (2011)
  • Brazilian League Most Improved Player (2011)
  • 3× Brazilian All-Star (2011–2013)

Early life

Benite was born in Jundiaí, in São Paulo state. His father, Francisco Carlos Benite, was an engineer, and he moved the family to Rio de Janeiro for a new job. There, the young Benite was spotted by Boleta, the coach of Flamengo, while Benite was playing with his brothers. Boleta brought the boys to the Flamengo athletic club, where Benite started his youth career in 1997. Benite would attend school in the morning and play basketball in the afternoon. When he was a few years older, Benite continued his youth career in Campinas, playing at Clube de Regatas Campinas. He finished his amateur youth career with Rio Claro Futebol Clube.

Professional career

After the end of his youth career with Ulbra/Rio Claro, Benite was signed by Pinheiros, joining the team for the first season (2009) of competition for the newly created Novo Basquete Brasil (NBB), the top tier of Brazilian basketball. The following two years Benite played for Franca.

2009–10 season

In his first season playing for Franca, Benite proved to be a great player. Because of his great matches, he was nominated for the NBB Revelation Player award, but Raulzinho won the award. This achievement helped Raulzinho to reach to Brazil national basketball team.

2010–11 season: The new Brazilian jewel

In his second season in Franca, Benite made his best season, when he helped his team to reach to the final series of the championship. But Franca did not support the strength of the future champion Brasília and became runner-up. Despite the defeat, Benite was chosen the NBB Sixth Man of the Year, the NBB Most Improved Player and the NBB Revelation Player. After his great season, Benite was chosen by the Argentine coach Rubén Magnano to play the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship for Brazil national basketball team. After two seasons in Franca, Benite moved to Limeira.

2011–12 season: Moving to Limeira

Arriving in Limeira, Benite adopted the speech he wanted to play as point guard. His beginning season was excellent. Benite led his team to a great position in championship. But it did not last until the end of the season and Limeira ranked ninth place. In the playoffs, Limeira was defeated by Joinville.

2012–13 season: The arrival at Flamengo and the first championship

With the end of the season, Benite moved to Flamengo, where he started his career. The arrival of Benite and arrivals from other players like Marquinhos, Olivinha, Kojo Mensah and Shilton dos Santos the club from Gávea gave to the group the status of super-team, a team formed only by stars and became the main contender for the NBB. In the state championship, Flamengo didn't have to reach its eighth consecutive title, which was conquered unbeaten. In Liga Sudamericana, Benite and his teammates reached the Final Four, defeated Regatas Corrientes and Peñarol Mar del Plata, but lost to Brasília, which prevented the title that got the team from Corrientes.

In FIBA Americas League, Flamengo qualified for the semifinals, with great performances from Benite. But in the semifinals, the team went through its worst season and lost all three matches, finishing last in the group.

But the NBB, the story was totally different. The coach led by José Neto impuse a sequence of 20 consecutive victories, only being defeated in the second round of the regular season. Benite was chosen to play the NBB All-Star Game for the third consecutive time, but due to an injury, he has no much time in the court. Recovered from his injury, Benite returned to play great matches . Flamengo finished the first stage in the first place, and in the playoffs, eliminated Paulistano, São José to reach the final of the championship. But in the week of the Final, Benite he felt the same injury that had left out a few games in the first round. Benite not played the Final, but it was very important to give support to his teammates . Benite saw his team once again be national champion. A great season Benite earned him his return to Brazil national team, to play 2013 FIBA Americas Championship.

2018–19

On July 23, 2018, he signed with Cedevita.[4]

National team career

Benite has been a member of the senior Brazilian national basketball team. With Brazil, he has played at the following major tournaments: the 2011 FIBA AmeriCup, the 2012 FIBA South American Championship, the 2013 FIBA AmeriCup, the 2014 FIBA South American Championship, the 2015 Pan American Games, the 2015 FIBA AmeriCup, and the 2016 Summer Olympics. He won the silver medal at the 2011 FIBA AmeriCup, the bronze medal at the 2014 FIBA South American Championship, and the gold medal at the 2015 Pan American Games.[5]

NBB career statistics

NBB regular season

Season Team GP MPG 2PT FG% 3PT FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2009Pinheiros2129.8.477.459.6602.12.41.1.210.0
2009-10Franca2626.6.405.316.7472.42.2.7.310.7
2010-11Franca2428.5.542.398.8652.62.61.0.115.3
2011-12Limeira2832.4.479.366.8572.63.61.2.114.6
2012–13Flamengo3329.8.486.434.7572.82.01.5.113.5
2013–14Flamengo334.3.426.2941.0001.7.71.0.015.3
2014–15Flamengo2822.4.521.411.8402.11.4.6.011.7
Career16329.2.483.392.8022.32.11.0.112.8
All-Star3--------5.6

NBB playoffs

Season Team GP MPG 2PT FG% 3PT FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2009Pinheiros316.5.0.143.5003.01.7.3.01.3
2010-11Franca1027.3.478.423.6871.42.6.8.013.2
2011-12Limeira531.6.528.444.8972.42.02.2.017.6
2012–13Flamengo823.7.558.647.8421.80.9.5.112.1
2013–14Flamengo110.5.1.0001.0001.0001.0.0.0.08.0
2014–15Flamengo1027.5.502.414.8183.31.81.2.111.6
Career3722.9.518.444.8042.11.5.8.012.0

Awards and accomplishments

  • NBB champion: (2013, 2014, 2015)
  • NBB Sixth Man of the Year: (2011)
  • NBB Most Improved Player: (2011)
  • NBB Revelation Player: (2011)
  • NBB All-Star: (2011, 2012, 2013)

References

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