Meet the FlaBasquete point guards for the 2018 LDB competition
Matheusinho, João Matheus and João Vitor Belmiro will be the names in position 1
By Victor Cachoeira - inFlamengo is about to compete in another LDB! Hosting the competition, which will take place between September 10th and 14th at Gávea, the Rubro-Negro aims to take advantage of home court advantage and take an important step in the first stage of the competition. The official website of the beloved club will present the players who will be part of the FlaBasquete roster. In this first chapter, we will get to know the point guards on the roster.
A regular presence in the main squad, 18-year-old Matheusinho plays in the point guard position. Having had good minutes in the senior Carioca Championship, the youngster will be competing in his first LDB (Liga de Desenvolvimento de Basquete - Basketball Development League) wearing the sacred jersey.
Also a member of the main team, João Matheus Camargo is part of the Flamengo squad. With experience in last year's LDB (Liga de Desenvolvimento de Basquete - Basketball Development League), he discussed his expectations for the tournament.
"I see the LDB as a championship for visibility. For us in the youth system, it's a chance to join the senior team and take on responsibilities at the national level. We know that every game will be a battle and that we have to face all teams with the same attitude," said the point guard, who went on to talk about the importance of exchanging experiences with the FlaBasquete senior team.
"I try to absorb as much as possible from training with the players and from what Gustavinho says so that when I encounter certain situations, I'm well prepared to help both on and off the court," he concluded.
Rounding out the trio of playmakers is the young João Vitor Belmiro. The youngest member of the squad, Joãozinho competed in the Brazilian Under-21 Cup earlier this year, despite being only 16 years old.
"It's a great thrill and joy to be able to compete in the LDB. I can see that all my effort and dedication to training and games are giving me great results," he said.
"I think the U-21 Brazil Cup helped a lot with the team's cohesion both on and off the court, and that's very important. We know very well that our opponents are very strong, and that they will come at us with everything they've got, but we're going to start the first stage strong and giving our best at home. It's like our coach Paulo Chupeta said: 'Regardless of what they say, for me you are the best.' With the confidence he shows in us, I know our team will give its best," he concluded.
The Flamengo Regatas basketball teams receive funding from their sponsors – Thinkseg, TIM, 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), as well as support from the Brazilian Club Committee (CBC) through the decentralization of funds from the Pelé Law. The Flamengo Guardian Angel Project, a personal tax transfer, benefits all Olympic sports of the club.