Sports are constantly changing, and basketball is no exception. After two years of seeing the NBB title slip away, Flamengo significantly restructured its FlaBasquete team, hoping to reclaim the trophy it had won five times. The team underwent significant changes. In addition to the announced retirement of captain Marcelinho, other members left the team, which also underwent a restructuring of its coaching staff. Gustavo De Conti arrived from the Paulistano champions to lead the team on the court. And off the court, the position of General Manager was created, an old idea that has now been institutionalized. 

FlaBasquete's General Manager will be tasked with integrating the youth and professional teams, streamlining processes, and implementing a unified pathway across the ranks that will lead the club to winning titles again. Responsible for this mission will be Diego Jeleilate, who also came from Paulistano and has extensive experience with major clubs and the Brazilian National Team. At 38, Diego has worked at Corinthians and São Paulo, always managing professional and youth teams, both in basketball and soccer. Now, he arrives with ambition at the biggest champion of the New Basketball Brazil. 

"Coming to Flamengo is a huge challenge, and I'm thrilled by its size and scope. It's a significant change in my career. I'm here to build on my experience with the Brazilian National Team, and I have a lot to contribute to projects like Cuidar and the youth team. The professional team is a benchmark in basketball today, so I intend to reclaim that status," said Jeleilate, who also explained her role with Flamengo. 

"The General Manager must resume the development process. The consequence of developing players, besides making the club a benchmark, is to foster the adult team, reduce costs, and also increase the athlete's identity with the fans. This is what I will try to implement at Flamengo. We will also optimize the adult team, in terms of cost-benefit. I will work with the adult coaching staff and the youth team to identify and create a uniform path from the youth team to the professional level."

Flamengo's change wasn't just in management. The team underwent significant changes for the upcoming season. Multi-champion Marquinhos and Olivinha renewed their contracts. Anderson Varejão remains, as does João Vitor. Argentinian point guard Franco Balbi, from Ferrocarril Oeste (Argentina), shooting guard Kevin Crescenzi, who had a good season in the Liga Sorocabana, power forward David Nesbitt, forward Jhonatan Luz, and shooting guard Deryk Ramos, all three from Paulistano, arrived. Jeleilate explains how the team for the upcoming season was formed. 

"We've assembled a unique team, not as renowned, but with a great mix of top athletes and young, promising players. We know it will be a very experienced and physically strong team. A restless team, because youth brings that. Flamengo's focus is always on winning everything. We'll play friendlies in the preseason, like the NBA, and other games. If we compete in the Campeonato Carioca, we'll fight to maintain our dominance. We'll prepare for the South American League and also go strong for the NBB, because that's how it is at Flamengo," he added.