Writing maintained: Flamengo confirms history of winning first editions of LNB tournaments
Mais Querido took the cup in the initial year of the New Basketball Brazil, the Basketball Development League and the Super 8
By Mariana Sa - in
The first competition created by the National Basketball League was the Novo Basquete Brasil. This was followed by the Basketball Development League and the Super 8. All the initial editions had one thing in common: many tried, but Flamengo ended the season lifting the trophy. Against different opponents and with different rosters in each victory, the Mais Querido (the Most Beloved) set the standard and maintained its record of winning all of its last 12 finals.
In 2008/09, the LNB innovated with a new Brazilian Championship. Flamengo, the national champion the previous year, entered the competition with high spirits and lived up to expectations. The squad featured names like Marcelinho, Jefferson, Duda, Hélio, and Coloneze, who later went on to win the South American League. With a spectacular campaign in the qualifying round, totaling 26 wins and two losses, the "Mais Querido" closed out the quarterfinal and semifinal series with 3-0 wins against Pinheiros and Joinville, respectively. In the tough final against Brasília, a tough match went down to the fifth game, which was attended by over 15 people and a stunning 76-68 victory for the red-and-black team.
Flamengo's youth academy also left its mark. Thanks to the launch of the Development League in 2011, the Crias da Gávea players also began to gain another opportunity to grow and, most importantly, to shine. The team led by Paulo Chupeta featured Danielzinho and Gegê, who spent a few years at Mais Querido and won championships with the Manto in the professional ranks, as well as Fred "Varejinho" Duarte and Paranhos, the standouts in the final against Bauru. In a tight match at Tijuca Tênis Clube, Flamengo defeated the São Paulo team 70-68 and took home another trophy.
The last of these was the Super 8 Cup. In the final act of 2018, the Mais Querido went to a packed Pedrocão gymnasium to face Franca in a thrilling match. With a spot in the Liga das Américas and the unprecedented title at stake, Flamengo went all out against the home team. Thanks to stellar performances by Franco Balbi, Marquinhos, and Anderson Varejão, the red-and-black team celebrated with a 79-75 victory.
The basketball teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo receive funding from their sponsors – thinkseg, 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 generated by the Pelé Law. The Anjo da Guarda Rubro-Negro Project, a personal tax transfer, benefits all Olympic sports of the Most Beloved.