The Flamengo basketball team gained another important player on Friday afternoon (July 31.07). Point guard for the Brazilian National Team and a European player for eight years, São Paulo native Rafael Luz signed a one-year contract with the Mais Querido and returns to Brazil to join the project led by coach José Neto. Negotiations began as soon as the former Rio Natura Monbus (Spain) player arrived in Brazil after winning the gold medal at the Pan American Games in Toronto. With this signing, FlaBasquete now has Benite, Gegê, Jerome Meyinsse, JP Batista, Marcelinho Machado, Marquinhos, Olivinha, and other youth players for the 2015/16 season, reinforcing the philosophy of maintaining a balanced team of experienced and emerging players.

 

"I'm very happy to be returning to Brazil after eight years in Europe. Being close to my family and friends and living in Rio de Janeiro makes me overjoyed. My expectations are the best possible, as Flamengo is a team that competes for every title in the competitions it participates in, so this is very exciting," says Rafa Luz.

 

Regarding the integration with the red-and-black athletes who are part of the Brazilian National Team at the Pan American Games, Rafa praises the club.

 

"I talked a lot with Benite, Olivinha, and Diego Falcão. They always spoke very highly of Flamengo and its fans.... Actually, there's no need to talk about the fans, because in every Flamengo game I've seen, the energy they transmit to the team is visible. All the information I received about the club was wonderful, and that was definitely one of the reasons I signed the contract," concludes the player who is on Rubén Magnano's list of players to play in the Copa América.

 

Height: 1,85m

Position: Point Guard
Age: 23 years

Born in: Araçatuba (SP)

 

- Gold Medal Pan American Games Toronto (Canada - 2015)

- Bronze Medal South American Adult Men's Championship (Venezuela – 2014)

- 9th Place Copa América - Pre-World Cup (Venezuela – 2013)

- Silver Medal Pre-Olympic Tournament of the Americas (Argentina – 2011)

- 4th place South American Youth Championship (Venezuela – 2007)