Another season of the New Basketball Brazil (NBB) begins, and Estácio and Flamengo continue their partnership to promote the sport in the country. Since 2014, the partnership has extended beyond the four lines and involved numerous exchanges of experiences between students, staff, and athletes.

 

In 2017, for example, during the FlaBasquete adult team's preseason in Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte, Social Communication students had the opportunity to experience what it's like to be a reporter, covering matches and training sessions, as well as interviewing the five-time Brazilian champions during the National Basketball League's Media Day with the Rio team. Physical Education students, meanwhile, have been attending practical classes at the Gávea adult team's training sessions and games since their first year of contract. This experience makes a difference in the development of a professional. The goal is to involve as many students as possible, from different programs.  

The integration doesn't stop there. Recently, Rubro-Negro and Estácio joined forces in a solidarity action, donating non-perishable food to a charity that serves 400 children in Rio de Janeiro. The food was collected during the team's preparatory games for the 2017/18 season and sent to Solar Meninos de Luz, which has been a partner educational institution for several years.

 

"This donation is very important because it helps us maintain the school, as we provide three meals a day for the students – breakfast, lunch, and a snack – which averages 1.500 meals a day. We have 400 children and 100 employees, so this food donation is essential. The experience of the children meeting the team was also very cool," celebrates Fernando Barbosa, Marketing Assistant at Solar Meninos de Luz.

 

"Our partnership with Estácio has been bearing fruit for four years now, with basketball. Having the leading institution in its segment as our sponsor demonstrates how important large companies are in promoting sports in Brazil. In recent years, the sport has grown its fan base and interest, which wouldn't have been possible without the strong work of organizations that embraced the cause. We're happy to continue this journey with the institution," concludes Flamengo's Vice President of Marketing, Daniel Orlean.

 

"We are very proud to form partnerships like this that positively impact so many people. This further reaffirms our mission to Educate to Transform. For our students, the experience of attending games, training sessions, and learning, hands-on, about certain professions is invaluable. We hope to continue working together for many years. Flamengo is a basketball powerhouse and a team much loved by fans. Estácio is very pleased with this partnership, and we hope to continue working together for many years to come. We wish the team luck in this new NBB season," said Claudia Romano, Vice President of Institutional Relations and Sustainability.

 

Through this partnership, players also have the opportunity to study at Estácio, earning a higher education degree. Shooting guard Marcelinho Machado is an example of this. He, who is entering his final season as an athlete, graduated with a Marketing degree through Estácio's distance learning program. He's an example for other athletes seeking a new path after their sports careers.

 

"I think that, even if you don't use the specific knowledge you learn in college in sports, a thinking mind tends to work better in everything they do. When you feel productive studying, learning, and graduating, you end up performing better in everything in your life, including on the court. So, it's a very welcome partnership. I graduated from Estácio and I hope other athletes can follow this path too," declares the Rubro-Negro captain.

 

For coach José Neto, the partnership goes far beyond the print on the team's shirt.

 

"Estácio has been supporting basketball for many years, regardless of the situation on the court. It's a partner that aligns with the club's principles, which are to always strive for more than just excellent results, but rather to promote the necessary conditions for consistent success, focusing on developing the quality of all team members."

 

Flamengo plays its first home match in the NBB10 this Thursday (30), at the Tijuca Tênis Clube gymnasium, at 19:30 pm (Brasília time), in search of its sixth national championship. The team has five trophies in the competition in Gávea, in addition to the League of the Americas and the Intercontinental Cup (the club world cup).