Fla wants to qualify for the final this Tuesday, in Franca
Two-time champion, the red-black team is looking for another victory to 'kill' the best-of-five series
By From the team at Flamengo's official website - in
A real decision. This is how Flamengo's players approach their fourth match against Franca, this Tuesday at 20:30 pm, at the Pedrocão Gymnasium in the interior of São Paulo state, in the semifinals of the Novo Basquete Brasil. With two wins to Franca's one, the Flamengo team only needs one more positive result away from home to secure a spot in the final and continue their quest for the long-awaited third Brazilian championship. However, everyone at Gávea knows the task won't be easy, especially after the initial chaos that arose after the third game.
"We played two high-contact, playoff games in Rio. They tried to create a hostile atmosphere for Tuesday's match and will do the same. But that's part of the process, and we're prepared to face that pressure. We're going after the win and qualification," said Marcelinho.
The red-and-black captain isn't the only one expecting a hostile atmosphere in the basketball capital. One of the standouts in both home wins, winger Jefferson knows the pressure from the fans will be immense, but he says the team is prepared to put on a great performance and secure qualification at the Pedrocão.
"Playing against Franca is always different. Franca is the national basketball capital, and Flamengo is the current two-time NBB champion. The rivalry is fierce, but the game has to be played fairly, with the ball. But of course, the plays will be more contested. The desire to win is always greater. The hostility will exist, but Flamengo has experienced players who are used to playing in big decisions like this," said the player, who is betting on the same aggressive approach used in the games in Rio de Janeiro.
"We have to impose our game of quick attacks and offensive play. If we play this way, I believe we will return victorious," he concluded.
Coach Paulo Chupeta agrees with Jefferson, but warns his players to focus solely on playing basketball. Although he admits he expects a rather hostile atmosphere from the opposing players and fans, the Flamengo coach believes that if Flamengo plays with the same intensity it showed at home, it will be unlikely that it won't qualify for the final away from home.
One win away from taking Flamengo to its third consecutive Brazilian Championship final, Chupeta wants his players to take advantage of the pressure on the home team, who need to win at any cost to stay alive in the competition.
"We're one win away from the grand final. This means that for Franca it's win or lose. They can't afford any other outcome. We have to play the same way we did in Rio: suffocate them defensively and score under pressure. What we can't do under any circumstances is repeat the mistakes of the last quarter of the first match, when we allowed the comeback.
"We played two high-contact, playoff games in Rio. They tried to create a hostile atmosphere for Tuesday's match and will do the same. But that's part of the process, and we're prepared to face that pressure. We're going after the win and qualification," said Marcelinho.
The red-and-black captain isn't the only one expecting a hostile atmosphere in the basketball capital. One of the standouts in both home wins, winger Jefferson knows the pressure from the fans will be immense, but he says the team is prepared to put on a great performance and secure qualification at the Pedrocão.
"Playing against Franca is always different. Franca is the national basketball capital, and Flamengo is the current two-time NBB champion. The rivalry is fierce, but the game has to be played fairly, with the ball. But of course, the plays will be more contested. The desire to win is always greater. The hostility will exist, but Flamengo has experienced players who are used to playing in big decisions like this," said the player, who is betting on the same aggressive approach used in the games in Rio de Janeiro.
"We have to impose our game of quick attacks and offensive play. If we play this way, I believe we will return victorious," he concluded.
Coach Paulo Chupeta agrees with Jefferson, but warns his players to focus solely on playing basketball. Although he admits he expects a rather hostile atmosphere from the opposing players and fans, the Flamengo coach believes that if Flamengo plays with the same intensity it showed at home, it will be unlikely that it won't qualify for the final away from home.
One win away from taking Flamengo to its third consecutive Brazilian Championship final, Chupeta wants his players to take advantage of the pressure on the home team, who need to win at any cost to stay alive in the competition.
"We're one win away from the grand final. This means that for Franca it's win or lose. They can't afford any other outcome. We have to play the same way we did in Rio: suffocate them defensively and score under pressure. What we can't do under any circumstances is repeat the mistakes of the last quarter of the first match, when we allowed the comeback.