In search of the eighth championship, Flamengo debuts in the State basketball championship
Reformed, the team faces Riachuelo, Friday (28.09), in Tijuca
By press office - in
The 2012/2013 season begins this Friday (September 28.09) for Flamengo basketball. The team debuts in the State Championship, against Riachuelo, at 18 p.m., at the Tijuca Tênis Clube gymnasium. Admission is free. With a revamped squad, the Rubro-negro team is seeking its eighth title in the competition. Flamengo will also compete in the South American League and the NBB.
From last season's squad, only captain and small forward Marcelinho, small forward/guard Duda, and center Caio Torres remain. Small forward Marquinhos, small forward/guard Vitor Benite, point guards Kojo and Gegê, small forward Olivinha, and center Shilton, along with coach José Neto, have been retained. Players from the U-22 team, Feliciano Perez, Douglas, Luiz Otávio, Alexandre, and Diego, will complete the squad.
The State Championship will feature four teams (Flamengo, Riachuelo, Botafogo, and Tijuca) and will be played in a home-and-away format. In the second round, on October 01.10st, the Red-Black team will face Botafogo at 20 p.m. in Tijuca, and on October 05.10th, they will face Tijuca at 20 p.m. in the same venue. The second round will be played from October 15th to 19.10th, with the finals taking place from November 5th to 9th.
"In this first competition, the players will still be improving their physical qualities. We will also be developing tactical aspects and game concepts. Our first challenge will be to transform the great players we have into a great team, and the State Championship will be good preparation for the rest of the season," said coach José Neto. "We have assembled a team capable of competing for all the titles we compete for, and we will enter every competition with the same focus," he added.
Captain Marcelinho agrees:
"We've been training hard to build rapport and give the team a new look, as the team has changed a lot and strengthened compared to last year. We're very motivated. It's another year of important competitions, starting with the State Championship, which will be shorter but will feature teams with a long history in Rio de Janeiro basketball. We know our strength on paper, but we need to show it on the court and fight for another title for the club," said the player, who has scored more than 7 points for the club in 285 official matches.
For debutant Vitor Benite, the State Championship will be important in the team's preparation:
"We are looking for the best team spirit and the ideal physical condition for the squad. I don't know most of the opponents we will face in the State Championship, only Tijuca, who compete in the NBB, but the competition will be important to help and complement our preparation. We will compete in the State Championship with our focus on the title, respecting all our opponents but seeking our objective," said Vitor Banite.
FRIENDLY MATCHES AND SOUTH AMERICAN LEAGUE
Flamengo will play four friendly matches in preparation for the South American League. On October 03.10, the red-and-black team will face Brasília at 20 p.m. in Tijuca. On October 07.10, the team travels to Buenos Aires to face Boca Jrs., Lanus, and Velez on October 8, 9, and 10.10, respectively. The first round of the South American League will be played in Mar del Plata (ARG) against Hebraica (URU) on October 23.10. Flamengo will then face Deportes Castro (CHI) on October 24.10 and Peñarol (ARG) on October 25.10.
CAIO TORRES
Center Caio Torres will not compete in the State Championship. He tore the ligaments in his left big toe and is undergoing treatment.
From last season's squad, only captain and small forward Marcelinho, small forward/guard Duda, and center Caio Torres remain. Small forward Marquinhos, small forward/guard Vitor Benite, point guards Kojo and Gegê, small forward Olivinha, and center Shilton, along with coach José Neto, have been retained. Players from the U-22 team, Feliciano Perez, Douglas, Luiz Otávio, Alexandre, and Diego, will complete the squad.
The State Championship will feature four teams (Flamengo, Riachuelo, Botafogo, and Tijuca) and will be played in a home-and-away format. In the second round, on October 01.10st, the Red-Black team will face Botafogo at 20 p.m. in Tijuca, and on October 05.10th, they will face Tijuca at 20 p.m. in the same venue. The second round will be played from October 15th to 19.10th, with the finals taking place from November 5th to 9th.
"In this first competition, the players will still be improving their physical qualities. We will also be developing tactical aspects and game concepts. Our first challenge will be to transform the great players we have into a great team, and the State Championship will be good preparation for the rest of the season," said coach José Neto. "We have assembled a team capable of competing for all the titles we compete for, and we will enter every competition with the same focus," he added.
Captain Marcelinho agrees:
"We've been training hard to build rapport and give the team a new look, as the team has changed a lot and strengthened compared to last year. We're very motivated. It's another year of important competitions, starting with the State Championship, which will be shorter but will feature teams with a long history in Rio de Janeiro basketball. We know our strength on paper, but we need to show it on the court and fight for another title for the club," said the player, who has scored more than 7 points for the club in 285 official matches.
For debutant Vitor Benite, the State Championship will be important in the team's preparation:
"We are looking for the best team spirit and the ideal physical condition for the squad. I don't know most of the opponents we will face in the State Championship, only Tijuca, who compete in the NBB, but the competition will be important to help and complement our preparation. We will compete in the State Championship with our focus on the title, respecting all our opponents but seeking our objective," said Vitor Banite.
FRIENDLY MATCHES AND SOUTH AMERICAN LEAGUE
Flamengo will play four friendly matches in preparation for the South American League. On October 03.10, the red-and-black team will face Brasília at 20 p.m. in Tijuca. On October 07.10, the team travels to Buenos Aires to face Boca Jrs., Lanus, and Velez on October 8, 9, and 10.10, respectively. The first round of the South American League will be played in Mar del Plata (ARG) against Hebraica (URU) on October 23.10. Flamengo will then face Deportes Castro (CHI) on October 24.10 and Peñarol (ARG) on October 25.10.
CAIO TORRES
Center Caio Torres will not compete in the State Championship. He tore the ligaments in his left big toe and is undergoing treatment.