Fla wants to win and regain home court advantage
Rubro-negro will face Franca this Friday, aiming to tie the best-of-five series in the NBB semi-finals
By Media Relations - in
Accustomed to being Flamengo's sixth man in important moments in the club's history, the red-and-black fans will have to show their strength more than ever in the two matches against Franca in the Novo Basquete Brasil semifinals, Friday and Saturday, at 21 pm and 20:30 pm, respectively, at the HSBC Arena. Defeated in the first game of the best-of-five series, played in the interior of São Paulo, Flamengo, which will have point guard Ian back and will play with a full squad for the first time this season, needs to win both matches in Rio de Janeiro to maintain the advantage of deciding a spot in the final at home.
"Flamengo's fans are our sixth player and always make a difference when they show up. They've learned to support basketball over the last two seasons and know that now is the time to fill the arena and push us in our two home matches," said coach Paulo Chupeta.
But the Flamengo coach recognizes that the presence of fans alone won't be enough for Flamengo to secure two positive results in Rio. To avoid repeating the team's lack of focus in the final five minutes of the first leg, Chupeta wants his players focused throughout the entire forty minutes of play.
"We played well in Franca, but unfortunately we faltered at the decisive moment. We lost our defensive concentration in the final minutes and allowed Márcio and Rogério to have freedom to play, and that was fatal. In the first half, we managed to double-mark Helinho, leaving him with virtually no space to play. If we repeat this in both games and neutralize their attack, we have everything we need to win and secure a spot in Franca," said the Flamengo coach.
Jefferson and Duda, the main representatives of the Flamengo fans on the court, also emphasized the importance of the fans' presence at both home games. For the power forward/center, this was one of the determining factors in last season's title victory.
"This upcoming game against Franca will be crucial for Flamengo's hopes of winning the third title. That's why our fans have to show up in force and turn the HSBC Arena into a real cauldron. They made the difference in the final match against Brasília last year, and I'm sure they'll help us again," he assured.
The Flamengo maestro went a step further and also demanded a different defensive posture from the team. For Duda, more than the massive presence of Flamengo fans, he and his teammates cannot give space to the Franca team's top scorers.
"A team that wants to be champion can't concede 35 points in the final quarter of a decisive match like what happened in Franca. We had excellent performance at the beginning of the game, we locked in our defense and had a great first half. But we relaxed at the end, we allowed Rogério and Márcio to play freely in the fourth quarter and we couldn't contain their reaction. That's why we have to pay extra attention to these players," warned the Gávea number 10, who will once again play the role of maestro on the court.
"We miss our fans in Franca, but we know they'll pack the arena for these two games and help us reach another final. Franca fans understand basketball very well and made the difference in the first game in São Paulo. Now it's the turn of the Flamengo fans, who in recent years have learned to support basketball, do their part, put pressure on them, and push us.
PROBABLE TEAM: HÉLIO, MARCELINHO, DUDA, COLONEZE AND WAGNER
"Flamengo's fans are our sixth player and always make a difference when they show up. They've learned to support basketball over the last two seasons and know that now is the time to fill the arena and push us in our two home matches," said coach Paulo Chupeta.
But the Flamengo coach recognizes that the presence of fans alone won't be enough for Flamengo to secure two positive results in Rio. To avoid repeating the team's lack of focus in the final five minutes of the first leg, Chupeta wants his players focused throughout the entire forty minutes of play.
"We played well in Franca, but unfortunately we faltered at the decisive moment. We lost our defensive concentration in the final minutes and allowed Márcio and Rogério to have freedom to play, and that was fatal. In the first half, we managed to double-mark Helinho, leaving him with virtually no space to play. If we repeat this in both games and neutralize their attack, we have everything we need to win and secure a spot in Franca," said the Flamengo coach.
Jefferson and Duda, the main representatives of the Flamengo fans on the court, also emphasized the importance of the fans' presence at both home games. For the power forward/center, this was one of the determining factors in last season's title victory.
"This upcoming game against Franca will be crucial for Flamengo's hopes of winning the third title. That's why our fans have to show up in force and turn the HSBC Arena into a real cauldron. They made the difference in the final match against Brasília last year, and I'm sure they'll help us again," he assured.
The Flamengo maestro went a step further and also demanded a different defensive posture from the team. For Duda, more than the massive presence of Flamengo fans, he and his teammates cannot give space to the Franca team's top scorers.
"A team that wants to be champion can't concede 35 points in the final quarter of a decisive match like what happened in Franca. We had excellent performance at the beginning of the game, we locked in our defense and had a great first half. But we relaxed at the end, we allowed Rogério and Márcio to play freely in the fourth quarter and we couldn't contain their reaction. That's why we have to pay extra attention to these players," warned the Gávea number 10, who will once again play the role of maestro on the court.
"We miss our fans in Franca, but we know they'll pack the arena for these two games and help us reach another final. Franca fans understand basketball very well and made the difference in the first game in São Paulo. Now it's the turn of the Flamengo fans, who in recent years have learned to support basketball, do their part, put pressure on them, and push us.
PROBABLE TEAM: HÉLIO, MARCELINHO, DUDA, COLONEZE AND WAGNER