Fla bets on unity and love for the shirt to beat Brasília
The best-of-five series that will decide the 2010 NBB begins this Saturday at the HSBC Arena
By From the team at Flamengo's official website - in
In soccer, it's often said that gone are the days when players wore the jersey and played for the love of the club. Worse than that these days is gathering players from the same city into a group who support the team they currently play for. But every rule has its exception. And Flamengo's basketball team, which begins its battle for the title of the New Basketball Brazil vs. Universo/Brasília tournament this Saturday at 16 p.m. at the HSBC Arena, is one of them. With five of the 12 players coached by Paulo Chupeta trained in Gávea and eight born in Rio de Janeiro, the identification with the red and black colors and the city where they play has been one of the red-and-black team's strengths in its fight for its third national championship.
As if this almost umbilical connection with the club weren't enough, seven of these athletes support Adriano, Wagner Love, and co. and have been attending Maracanã since childhood. This passion may not make them more talented players, but it certainly makes them much more committed and ends up making a huge difference on the court, especially in the difficult times any club faces.
"I don't know if this group would be so united and would have won so many titles if they were playing for another club. We've been through difficult times, with injury problems during the season, and we've never lost heart because of the identification and love we have for Flamengo. We are true representatives of the fans on the court," said point guard Dedé, who came through the club's youth ranks and is a regular at the Maracanã.
Revered by the thousands of diehards who make up the country's largest fan base, Marcelinho is one of the greatest examples of club love. A Flamengo youth product, but with notable professional stints at Botafogo and Fluminense, the captain of Flamengo and the Brazilian national team swapped the Euros to play for his beloved club. The decision was such a success that the number 4 won almost every possible title in three seasons and extended his relationship with the club until 2012.
"We never know what tomorrow will bring, because we're professionals first and foremost, but I want to end my career at Flamengo. I'm at the club I support, close to my family and friends, and that makes all the difference. Not to mention that this group is unique. Most of us have known each other since we were little, played together or faced each other in the youth teams, and we know each other's quirks and characteristics very well. And that, without a doubt, helps us a lot in the matches," said the red-and-black star, whose brother Duda is the leader of the red-and-black nation on the court.
The connection is so strong that even those who weren't born in Rio or started their careers at Flamengo seem to have the red and black in their blood. A native of Acre, point guard Fred is in his fifth season and, alongside Coloneze, is the longest-tenured player at the club. Coincidentally, both are die-hard Flamengo fans. So is coach Paulo Chupeta, who has been with the club since 1997 and claims to have never worked with such a close-knit group.
"This group was handpicked, both for their technical skills and for their character. We're a family where everyone cares about each other. I honestly don't see that in other teams. Here, there's no division, not even in difficult times. Of course, we feel the strain of any long-term relationship, and there are arguments, but at this point, we sit down, talk, listen to each other, and resolve everything between us," highlighted coach Paulo Chupeta.
Tickets for the first game of the best-of-five series are still on sale at several locations, such as: Maracanã Stadium (ticket office 8), Gávea Headquarters, home of Fluminense, on Álvaro Chaves Street, in Laranjeiras, Terra Encantada, on Ayrton Senna Avenue, 2.800, Barra da Tijuca, São Cristóvão Stadium, on Figueira de Mello Street, in São Cristóvão, and at the HSBC arena itself, on Embaixador Abelardo Bueno Avenue, 3401, in Barra da Tijuca. Tickets for the seats cost R$20 and R$10 (half-price), and for the boxes R$50 and R$25 (half-price).
PROBABLE TEAM: Marcelinho, Duda, Hélio, Guilherme and Vágner.
As if this almost umbilical connection with the club weren't enough, seven of these athletes support Adriano, Wagner Love, and co. and have been attending Maracanã since childhood. This passion may not make them more talented players, but it certainly makes them much more committed and ends up making a huge difference on the court, especially in the difficult times any club faces.
"I don't know if this group would be so united and would have won so many titles if they were playing for another club. We've been through difficult times, with injury problems during the season, and we've never lost heart because of the identification and love we have for Flamengo. We are true representatives of the fans on the court," said point guard Dedé, who came through the club's youth ranks and is a regular at the Maracanã.
Revered by the thousands of diehards who make up the country's largest fan base, Marcelinho is one of the greatest examples of club love. A Flamengo youth product, but with notable professional stints at Botafogo and Fluminense, the captain of Flamengo and the Brazilian national team swapped the Euros to play for his beloved club. The decision was such a success that the number 4 won almost every possible title in three seasons and extended his relationship with the club until 2012.
"We never know what tomorrow will bring, because we're professionals first and foremost, but I want to end my career at Flamengo. I'm at the club I support, close to my family and friends, and that makes all the difference. Not to mention that this group is unique. Most of us have known each other since we were little, played together or faced each other in the youth teams, and we know each other's quirks and characteristics very well. And that, without a doubt, helps us a lot in the matches," said the red-and-black star, whose brother Duda is the leader of the red-and-black nation on the court.
The connection is so strong that even those who weren't born in Rio or started their careers at Flamengo seem to have the red and black in their blood. A native of Acre, point guard Fred is in his fifth season and, alongside Coloneze, is the longest-tenured player at the club. Coincidentally, both are die-hard Flamengo fans. So is coach Paulo Chupeta, who has been with the club since 1997 and claims to have never worked with such a close-knit group.
"This group was handpicked, both for their technical skills and for their character. We're a family where everyone cares about each other. I honestly don't see that in other teams. Here, there's no division, not even in difficult times. Of course, we feel the strain of any long-term relationship, and there are arguments, but at this point, we sit down, talk, listen to each other, and resolve everything between us," highlighted coach Paulo Chupeta.
Tickets for the first game of the best-of-five series are still on sale at several locations, such as: Maracanã Stadium (ticket office 8), Gávea Headquarters, home of Fluminense, on Álvaro Chaves Street, in Laranjeiras, Terra Encantada, on Ayrton Senna Avenue, 2.800, Barra da Tijuca, São Cristóvão Stadium, on Figueira de Mello Street, in São Cristóvão, and at the HSBC arena itself, on Embaixador Abelardo Bueno Avenue, 3401, in Barra da Tijuca. Tickets for the seats cost R$20 and R$10 (half-price), and for the boxes R$50 and R$25 (half-price).
PROBABLE TEAM: Marcelinho, Duda, Hélio, Guilherme and Vágner.