Rafael Mineiro has been accumulating outstanding performances this season. Since returning to Flamengo, the center has proven to be an essential piece in Gustavo de Conti's team, with strong, decisive and very agile performances. A player with different characteristics than usual in his position, Mineiro uses speed and dribbling to invade the paint and secure the basket. On Tuesday night (19), against Niterói Basquete, Mineiro scored 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the 97-38 victory, which opened the semifinal series of the State Championship. This Wednesday, the teams will face each other again at Gávea, at 20 pm, and another Flamengo victory will put FlaBasquete in the final against Botafogo, who eliminated Vasco da Gama.

For Mineiro, the result of the first game no longer matters and only represented the team's style of play. Even against a weaker opponent, Flamengo behaves as if it were the final decision of the championship, seeking victory until the end and respecting the opponent. For this, and other reasons, they have won all seven games of the championship so far. 

"A "The best way to show respect is like this. We came in from the start, playing with a strong rhythm as if we were against the best team. Those watching might think the game was easy because of the large score. But in every contested ball, every play, every moment we're throwing ourselves onto the court, looking for the rebound, and that's why we've had so much success on the scoreboard," highlighted the number 12.

There will only be 24 hours between games. Fatigue could be an opponent, but for Rafael it won't make much difference due to the extensive rotation implemented by coach Gustavo de Conti.  

"All the players are experienced and used to this. Today we rotated a lot, and tomorrow I hope everyone will be more rested and prepared," he concluded. 

Tickets for the match between Flamengo and Niterói are on sale on the website of Web Counter They will also be sold on the spot, at the entrance of the Hélio Maurício gymnasium.  

The basketball teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo receive funding from their sponsors – thinkseg, Estácio, AmBev, Rede D'or, IRB Brasil RE, CSN, Brasil Plural, and EY – via the Federal Incentive Law/Ministry of Sports (IR) and the State Incentive Law/Rio de Janeiro State Secretariat of Sports, Recreation, and Youth (Seelje), in addition to support from the Brazilian Club Committee (CBC) resulting from the decentralization of resources from the Pelé Law. The Anjo da Guarda Rubro-Negro Project, a personal tax transfer, benefits all Olympic sports of the Most Beloved.