Duel inside the bottle
With an eye on player Baby, Flamengo faces Paulistano this Tuesday (02/02), at 20 pm, at HSBC Arena
By From the team at Flamengo's official website - in
After a home loss to Brasília, Flamengo will be looking to bounce back this Tuesday at 20 p.m. at HSBC Arena. Their next match is against Paulistano, the final match of the first round of the qualifying phase of the New Basketball Brazil (NBB). And the challenge is far from easy – their opponent features a well-known player from the red-and-black team: center Rafael Araújo.
One of the most important names in the NBB's conquest, Rafael Araújo, known as Baby, now plays for Paulistano. Knowing him so closely, according to Flamengo coach Paulo Chupeta, gives Flamengo a certain advantage—at least compared to other NBB teams.
"We've been working together for a year, and they already know how to play against Baby. He's a very intense player under the basket. Unfortunately, we're without Coloneze [injured], but we have Alírio, Wagner, and, as a last resort, Jefferson. We have to defend strongly to prevent them from playing inside and activating Baby. That's our concern. But Paulistano isn't just Baby. It's a very strong team," Chupeta emphasizes.
Center Wagner agrees. "He's a great player, very dangerous. He's very efficient in the paint. We train with him, and knowing his strengths and weaknesses is an added bonus. Although he knows ours, we have more options than Paulistano. We're eager to overcome Sunday's defeat, and Paulistano will be the one to pay the price."
According to the National Basketball League press office, forward Dedé, Paulistano's leading scorer in the NBB with 15 points per game, is expected to undergo surgery this week and will be out for approximately three months. Point guard Fernando Penna and forward Edu are also doubtful.
Flamengo may again be without Helio. The point guard felt pain in the sole of his right foot during the warm-up for the match against Universo and did not play. "He underwent an MRI scan, and the results should be available this Tuesday. He was medicated, will continue treatment, and is progressing well. His starting lineup depends on the results of the scan and how he responds to the exercises." Another certain absence is Coloneze, who will only return to the court in March.
Tickets for the game against Paulistano are now on sale at the box office of HSBC Arena, Gávea, Maracanã, Fluminense and São Cristóvão, at a cost of R$20,00 (R$10,00 half price).
One of the most important names in the NBB's conquest, Rafael Araújo, known as Baby, now plays for Paulistano. Knowing him so closely, according to Flamengo coach Paulo Chupeta, gives Flamengo a certain advantage—at least compared to other NBB teams.
"We've been working together for a year, and they already know how to play against Baby. He's a very intense player under the basket. Unfortunately, we're without Coloneze [injured], but we have Alírio, Wagner, and, as a last resort, Jefferson. We have to defend strongly to prevent them from playing inside and activating Baby. That's our concern. But Paulistano isn't just Baby. It's a very strong team," Chupeta emphasizes.
Center Wagner agrees. "He's a great player, very dangerous. He's very efficient in the paint. We train with him, and knowing his strengths and weaknesses is an added bonus. Although he knows ours, we have more options than Paulistano. We're eager to overcome Sunday's defeat, and Paulistano will be the one to pay the price."
According to the National Basketball League press office, forward Dedé, Paulistano's leading scorer in the NBB with 15 points per game, is expected to undergo surgery this week and will be out for approximately three months. Point guard Fernando Penna and forward Edu are also doubtful.
Flamengo may again be without Helio. The point guard felt pain in the sole of his right foot during the warm-up for the match against Universo and did not play. "He underwent an MRI scan, and the results should be available this Tuesday. He was medicated, will continue treatment, and is progressing well. His starting lineup depends on the results of the scan and how he responds to the exercises." Another certain absence is Coloneze, who will only return to the court in March.
Tickets for the game against Paulistano are now on sale at the box office of HSBC Arena, Gávea, Maracanã, Fluminense and São Cristóvão, at a cost of R$20,00 (R$10,00 half price).