The time has come! Flamengo takes to the court this Saturday (28), at 14 pm, for the first match of the semifinal stage of the Novo Basquete Brasil 10. Playing at the Professor Hugo Ramos gymnasium, in Mogi das Cruzes, the Mais Querido faces the home team with the aim of starting the series on the right foot. The game will be broadcast on TV Band and SporTV. 

After defeating Minas Gerais 3-0 in the quarterfinals, coach José Neto's squad is looking to repeat its strong performances and take another step toward its sixth title. The two teams are old acquaintances, and before the match, Neto spoke exclusively to the Official Website about the São Paulo team. 

"Mogi has shown throughout the season that they thrive when playing at home. They feel very well supported by their fans, and we know they're coming into this game motivated by their away win against Caxias. I'm sure they'll try to play to their strengths, exploiting the opportunities on the outside with Shamell, Larry, and even Tyrone. Wesley has been doing a good job on the inside, making the team very consistent and versatile. We have to be prepared for all situations to avoid surprises," said the coach. 

Flamengo

Coach José Neto will have all of the players from the red-and-black squad available. Check out the players listed. 

Shipowners: Arthur Pecos and David Cubillan.

Shooting guards: Ronald Ramon and Wesley Mogi.

Wings: Marcelinho and Marquinhos.

Power forwards: Olivinha, MJ Rhett and Pilar.

Pivots: JP Batista, João Vitor and Anderson Varejão.

Retrospect

Flamengo and Mogi das Cruzes have faced each other twice in the NBB semifinals. Both times, Flamengo advanced to the final. Of the nine matches played between the teams during the series, FlaBasquete won six, totaling a 66,6% success rate. 

In the 2013/14 season, when the teams met for the first time in a semifinal, Flamengo closed the series 3-1. In the decisive game, held in Mogi das Cruzes, the Rubro-Negro defeated the São Paulo team by a score of 79-71, with a great performance by American center Jerome Meyinsse. Scoring 34 points of 41 attempted, the number 55 also grabbed six rebounds and sealed the Rubro-Negro's qualification for the final of the competition, against Bauru, culminating in FlaBasquete's fourth NBB title. 

The following year, in the 2014/15 season, Flamengo and Mogi das Cruzes played out another breathtaking series. With thrilling action in every match, the pivotal moment was game four. With a last-second block from Marquinhos, the "Mais Querido" overturned a losing score at the Ginásio Hugão stadium, forcing a fifth match. Facing the "Nação" (Nation), in a packed Tijuca Tênis Clube, there was no way out: a fierce fight, a 79-75 score, and a guaranteed place in another NBB final. In the final match of the series, Olivinha scored 22 points and eight rebounds—the name of the game! 

Transmission

The match will be broadcast on SporTV and Band channels. 

Social media coverage

You can also follow the match live on Flamengo's official social media channels using the hashtag #FlaBasquete. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram  and like our page on Facebook. Fla TV also brings exclusive images to the Red-Black Nation. Sign up with one click, it's free!

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.