Rafael Hettsheimeir is back at FlaBasquete! The 2,11-foot-2020 center is a multiple champion with the Manto Sagrado and returns to the Rubro-Negro after a season with Bauru. In his first stint at Gávea, in 21/8, the São Paulo native from Araçatuba won everything he played in: Champions League (winning MVP of the finals), NBB, Super XNUMX, and Carioca.

"I'm very happy to be returning to Mengão. I was very happy there, I have many good memories, we won great titles. I hope to help the Nation achieve all of the season's objectives. I'm happy to be back working with Gustavo, who, besides being a great person, is a great coach. He's a guy who helped me a lot, both in terms of play, tactics, and physical skills. I fit in well with Gustavo's style of play and hope to help the team. I'm happy to see some teammates again, from the team where I made great friends, and from the coaching staff, coaches Bruno (Nicolaci), Vinicius (Lima), and Ricardo (Machado, physiotherapist), who are excellent professionals and helped me in my development at Flamengo. In short, it's pure happiness. I hope to have a great season," said Hettsheimeir.

Hett has been capped by the Brazilian national team and won the Pan American Championship with the Yellow Team in 2015. An experienced player, he spent eight years in Spain—for Real Madrid, Málaga, Fuenlabrada, among others—and was a player for Franca for two seasons. In addition to the titles won defending the Manto Sagrado, the center has an enviable resume: champion of the League of the Americas, two-time champion of the South American League, six-time São Paulo state champion, champion and MVP of the Super 8 Cup, Brazilian champion, and Spanish League champion.

"We're bringing back a FlaBasquete idol, who only left for family reasons. He was the MVP of our Champions League Americas triumph and is another international standout. A star on and off the court. Working under the coaching staff led by Gustavinho and with the excellent work of our CUIDAR team, he will reach his peak performance. We're confident that Hett will be a key player in a squad built to be a favorite in every competition it competes in," said Guilherme Kroll, Flamengo's vice president of Olympic Sports.

Hettsheimeir joins Rafael Rachel, Gui Deodato, Martin "Loku" Cuello, Rafael Mineiro, Nicolas "Penka" Aguirre, Olivinha, Yago, and Gabriel "Jaú," who have all been confirmed for next season. Coach Gustavo De Conti also renewed his contract with FlaBasquete and will remain in charge of the team.

The basketball teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo rely on resources from their sponsors – BRB, MOSS, TIM, ABC da Construção, PixBet, AmBev, Rede D'or, IRB Brasil RE, CSN, Brasil Plural, EY – via the Federal Incentive Law/Ministry of Sports (IR) and the State Incentive Law/State Secretariat of Sports, Leisure and Youth (Seelje) of Rio de Janeiro, in addition to support from the Brazilian Club Committee (CBC).