News Australia were the champions on the court, but off the court – and actually on it too – there was another band of heroes at the Rio 2016 basketball test event this weekend A group of former players, including two-time Olympic medallist Alessandra Santos de Oliveira, joined the team of volunteers who ensured that the event ended with players and officials from around the world giving their approval Alessandra, as she is better known in Brazil, worked on the ‘field of play’, with one of her 15 duties being to dry the court during gaps in the action The former WNBA star, who won silver at Atlanta 1996 and bronze at Sydney 2000, said being so close to the game had its pros and cons “It’s difficult when Brazil play, because I get excited, but you have to be professional I am a volunteer and I have to help the team”Alessandra Santos de Oliveira Ex-players Alessandra and Rafael Mueller show their dedication during the test event (Photo: Rio 2016/Alexandre Loureiro) Alessandra, who is now 42, said she benefited personally from working at the event “I have learned a great lesson from this experience I am contributing to basketball in another way I am still playing, but I know in my mind that soon I will have to do something else ”Another former player on the volunteer team was Alex Borges da Silva, who was better known as Negretti during a playing career with respected Brazilian clubs Franca, Casa Branca and Piracicaba “Being on the court at an Olympic event is something I never thought I’d do,” he said “I’m happy because it’s a chance few people get ”“I’m proud to be the first athlete to mop the Olympic basketball court”Alex Borges da Silva, AKA Negretti Negretti (left) was proud to ensure the court was always at the highest level for the players (Photo: Rio 2016/Alexandre Loureiro) Among the other ex-players from Brazilian clubs were Rafael Mueller and Guilheme Bez, from the Southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina Also worked in the competition area, Mueller said “I had to block some famous people from basketball from entering certain areas because they didn’t have the right accreditation It was a surprise and I didn’t like doing it, but it is part of our job ”Lucas Costa, who won Brazilian and South American titles during his playing days, volunteered as an athlete coordinator during the test event “Being part of this team has been a big challenge for me,” he said “I always wanted to participate in the Olympic Games and now I’m here ”Become a basketball expert with our interactive infographicBrazil beat Argentina 66-52 on Saturday (Photo: Rio 2016/Alexandre Loureiro) The final game of the round-robin tournament pitched pre-tournament favourites Australia against hosts Brazil on Sunday (17 January) night As both sides had already defeated Argentina and Venezuela, it was effectively a final, with the Australians triumphing 77-67 Players and coaches alike praised the organisation of the event afterwards “It was not lacking anything that you would expect from an Olympic event,” said Brazil coach Antônio Carlos Barbosa Erin Phillips, who helped Australia to silver at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, said: “It’s a fantastic arena, the facilities are of all international standard The floor is fantastic, it has good spring on it We have been really well looked after, the hospitality has been so good ”“I can see the people, staff and volunteers are really excited for the Olympics It’s going to be fantastic”Erin Phillips Brazilian wheelchair basketballers played a practice match on Sunday (Photo: Rio 2016/Alex Ferro) Sunday afternoon also featured a friendly match between two wheelchair basketball teams made of players from the Brazilian national squad, staged in order to test accessibility at the recently open Carioca Arena 1, which will also host wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby during the Paralympic Games in September “The court and surrounding facilities are fantastic,” said player Marcos Sanches “The chaging rooms, the bathrooms, everything is properly accessible ”Australia beat Venezuela 104-24 on Saturday (Photo: Rio 2016/Alexandre Loureiro) Among those who will direct the Olympic and Paralympic tournaments in August, there was a feeling of satisfaction at the end of the test event Lubomir Kotleba, sports direstor at the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) said: “I saw a high-level operation that was very solid ” Rio 2016 sports director Rodrigo Garcia said the test event had served to highlight some tweaks that needed to be made at the venue, such as with the levels of air conditioning and lighting The Brazilian fans whipped up a carnival-like atmosphere in the stands (Photo: Rio 2016/Alexandre Loureiro)