Corinthians duo make the LDB 2026 first-phase team | OneFootball

Throughout this Wednesday (1), the Basketball Development League (LDB) announced on its social media the ideal quintet of the first stage of the competition, held in Rio Claro, in the countryside of São Paulo. Corinthians, coached by Wesley Aguiar, was the only team to win all six games in the tournament (against Cruzeiro, Instituto Viva Vida, Minas, Basquete Cearense, Brasília, and Caxias do Sul).

Representing Timão in the selection were power forwards Lukinhas (Lucas Cardoso) and Luiggi. The team, which had the endorsement of the Brazilian Club Committee (CBC), is completed by Lucas Naka (Caxias do Sul), Lucca Boracina (Pinheiros), and Fernando César (Pinheiros). In the first phase of the LDB, Lukinhas averaged 14.5 points per game, 12.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists, in addition to 2.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per matchup.

Photo: Beto Miller/Agência Corinthians

In an interview with the official Basketball Development League (LDB) website, Lukinhas commented on the nomination: “I’m very proud to have received this nomination. I always work very hard and do my best to help my team, so this is recognition for all that work. Being in the LDB gives me a lot of experience to develop myself and improve my game. I will always give my all, and I want Corinthians to go far,” he said.

Luiggi, 22, in turn, recorded 13.6 rebounds (the second-best mark in the championship) and an efficiency rating of 27.8 (the highest average of the 2026 tournament). The 24 teams that took part in the LDB were divided into two groups, with games played in Rio Claro and Mogi das Cruzes. The 12 teams were then further split into two subgroups made up of six teams each. In the first phase, the teams face only the teams from the opposite subgroup within their own group.

In the second stage, which will be played between July and August, the games will be between teams from the same subgroup. Corinthians, Pinheiros, Flamengo, and Paulistano will host the matches of the national competition. After the end of the two phases, the top four teams from each group will advance to the Gold Series. From it will come the national champion — the competition will take place between September 14 and 19. The teams that finish the tournament between fifth and eighth place will qualify for the Silver Series, scheduled to take place between September 12 and 17.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.