major, plans to continue playing basketball
after Union while pursuing a master’s degree. | Photo by Anne Richoux
In honor of the men’s basketball team becoming Regional Champions in Division I this weekend, team captain Pedro Faller has been named Player of the Week.
Faller is a junior guard from Vitoria, Espirito Santo, Brazil. His basketball career began when he was 12, and he has remained dedicated to playing and developing his skills since then.
Faller has enjoyed the past three years playing for Union.
“The competition is really good for the Gulf South Conference,” Faller said. “As far as my team goes, there are people who want to be around you and encourage you.”
From the beginning Faller said he has tried to be an encouraging teammate and friend on and off the court.
Freshman International Business major Felipe Rocha has witnessed Faller’s encouragement and leadership skills since starting at Union in the fall.
“He has helped me transition from high school to college basketball,” Rocha said. “He is a talented player and a leader on the basketball court.”
Faller started playing for the Alvarez Cavaral club basketball team that his father coached back in Brazil.
In addition, he played for Charles Darwin High School while living in Brazil. He won the Player of the Year award and had the highest scoring average from 2003 to 2008 in his home state.
He also served as team captain for the club team and his high school team until 2009.
In 2010, Faller moved to Chattanooga to play basketball at Hammington Heights Christian Academy.
He played guard for the Hammington Heights Hawks from 2009 until he graduated in 2011. He was team captain for two years and was named NACAPP 1st Team All-Star both years.
At the beginning of the 2009 basketball season at Hammington Heights, Faller and former Union basketball player Giosha Koguashvilli were discovered by recruits at Union.
They both went to an official campus tour of the university and applied to Union with the intent to play basketball.
“Union was a really good-looking school and it was very organized,” Faller said. “The environment was completely different than any other school I had visited, and I wanted to be a part of that.”
Another perk of attending Union is the short distance to Chattanooga.
While in Chattanooga he lived with a host family that encouraged his basketball career.
“I have a very good relationship with my host family,” Faller said.
