The excitement of the first day of training camp was tempered by the absence of guard Leandro Barbosa, who had to leave for Brazil to be with his critically ill mother. Ivete Barbosa is well-known within the Suns family. She often spends extended parts of the season in the Valley, cooking traditional family meals and rooting on her son. She overcame a bout with a serious illness a few years ago but has suddenly fallen gravely ill.
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