Vitor Benite

Vitor Benite's Biography

Vítor Alves Benite, popularly known simply as Benite, is a thriving professional basketball player of Brazilian-Italian descent. Born on February 20, 1990, Benite is currently associated with the Gran Canaria team of the Spanish Liga ACB and EuroCup. He is a skilled shooting guard standing tall at a height of 1.94 m (6’4 1⁄2″).

Vítor Benite was born in Jundiai, located in the São Paulo state of Brazil. He comes from a humble family background, where his father, Francisco Carlos Benite, worked as an engineer. As his father’s job demanded, the family relocated to Rio de Janeiro. Little did they know that this move would mark the dawn of an extraordinary journey towards Benite’s future in professional basketball.

Once in Rio de Janeiro, young Benite was spotted by Boleta, an impressed coach from Flamengo, while Benite was playing basketball with his brothers. Boleta, charmed by the young player’s talent, led the Benite boys to the Flamengo athletic club. Thus, in 1997, Benite embarked on his youth career in the sport that was going to adorn his future with unmatched success. He spent his time attending school in the mornings and honing his basketball skills in the afternoons. As he grew older, he continued with the sport in Campinas, playing for Clube de Regatas Campinas. His youth career concluded on a high note at Rio Claro Futebol Clube.

Following the completion of his vibrant youth career at Ulbra/Rio Claro in 2009, Benite was signed by Pinheiros for the first season of the newly-established Novo Basquete Brasil (NBB), Brazil’s top-tier basketball championship. The subsequent two years saw Benite showcasing his talent for Franca.

In his first season with Franca, Benite proved his potential as a standout player. Despite his commendable performances, the NBB Revelation Player award eluded him. Raulzinho, another rising star, clinched the prestigious accolade. However, his commendable performance in the championship helped Raulzinho ascend to the Brazilian national basketball team.

Vítor Benite’s second season with Franca marked his finest run in the league. Benite played a pivotal role in driving his team to the championship finals. They, however, fell short against the indomitable Brasília, becoming the runners-up. Despite the defeat, Benite was honoured with the NBB Sixth Man of the Year, the NBB Most Improved Player, and NBB Revelation Player awards, attesting his rising prominence in the sport. His splendid performance earned him a place in the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship for the Brazilian national basketball team, under the stewardship of Argentine coach Rubén Magnano. After his successful stint with Franca, Benite shifted base to Limeira.

On arriving in Limeira, Benite expressed his desire to play as a point guard. He had an extraordinary start to the season, leading his team to an impressive place in the championship. However, a dip in form led the team to a ninth-place finish, and they lost to Joinville in the playoffs.

Benite then moved to Flamengo, the place where he first nurtured his dreams of becoming a professional basketball player. The team had a dynamic line-up with remarkable players like Marquinhos, Olivinha, Kojo Mensah, and Shilton dos Santos. This star ensemble made Flamengo a serious contender for the NBB title. The team achieved the state championship title unbeaten and reached the Final Four in Liga Sudamericana, eventually losing to Brasília. In FIBA Americas League too, thanks to notable performances by Benite, Flamengo qualified for the semi-finals but failed to progress further.

Despite the recent disappointments, when it came to the NBB championship, the team put up a brilliant run. Led by coach José Neto, the team enjoyed a streak of 20 back-to-back victories, losing only in the second round of the regular season. Benite, selected to play the NBB All-Star Game for the third time, had his time on the court cut short due to an injury. Once recovered, he made a striking comeback, leading Flamengo to eliminate Paulistano and São José to reach the championship final. An unfortunate recurrence of his earlier injury ruled him out of the Final, but he remained a critical support for his team. They went on to become national champions once more, and this magnificent season saw Benite return to the Brazil national basketball team to compete in the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship.

In addition to his domestic achievements, Benite has enjoyed a successful international stint as well. On July 23, 2018, he signed up with Cedevita. He later established an association with San Pablo Burgos. Exemplary performances through the 2019–20 season saw him average 13.5 points per game, earning him a renewal with the team on July 16, 2020. The highlight of his career came in October 2020 when he led Burgos to win the 2019–20 Basketball Champions League. On August 5, 2022, he was signed up by Gran Canaria of the Spanish Liga ACB.

In terms of international games, Benite has consistently represented Brazil at several major tournaments. These include 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. His silver medal at the 2011 FIBA AmeriCup, a bronze at the 2014 FIBA South American Championship and a gold at the 2015 Pan American Games adequately depict his contribution to the Brazilian basketball landscape. All through these years, Vítor Alves Benite, or simply Benite, has shown why he remains a cornerstone of Brazilian basketball.