This Saturday (10), at 18 pm, the ball goes up for another FlaBasquete game in the New Basketball Brazil 9. The Pride of the Nation welcomes Macaé to the Tijuca Tennis Club gym to defend their unbeaten record and leadership in the competition. This will be the third duel between the teams this season, after two games in the Campeonato Carioca - Rubro-Negro won on both occasions and ended up being crowned champion last Tuesday, by WO, after Vasco did not appear on the court.

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In the NBB CAIXA, Flamengo and Macaé have faced each other six times, all in the qualifying round, with four wins for the Mais Querido and two for their opponent. The last time the teams met in the national tournament was in the second round of the 2015/2016 season, on March 29 of this year. Flamengo won 92-62, and the Rubro-Negro's top scorer was captain Marcelinho Machado, with 21 points. Marquinhos also performed well, scoring 17 points.

The Pride of the Nation is undefeated in NBB9, with a total of six wins in six rounds. The Most Beloved has already faced Bauru, Franca, and Campo Mourão away from home, and Pinheiros, Liga Sorocabana, and Paulistano in Rio de Janeiro. Olivinha is one of the standouts of the season so far. The power forward has the highest rebounding average among players in the competition. Marquinhos is not far behind, with the second-highest points per game average this season. Marcelinho, meanwhile, reached the important milestone of 10 points with the Sacred Mantle in the last round.

The Clube de Regatas do Flamengo adult basketball team relies on direct funding from its sponsor Estácio, in addition to investments from Tim via the State Sports Incentive Law/State Secretariat for Sports, Leisure and Youth (ICMS).