Flamengo unveiled its official basketball team for the 2017/2018 season this Monday, complete with all its new players. The event was held at Fla-Memória, inside the club's headquarters in Gávea, and was attended by president Eduardo Bandeira de Mello, vice president of Olympic Sports Alexandre Póvoa, executive director Marcelo Vido, as well as the press and some fan club members.

 

Fresh from the Lima International Tournament, the team already has scheduled commitments for the week. On Tuesday (19 p.m.) and Wednesday (18 p.m.), Flamengo will host Vitória for two friendlies in Gávea, before traveling to Colombia, where they will compete in the South American Basketball League, starting Sunday.

               

With the room packed and the trophies as a backdrop, President Bandeira was the first to speak, and he already set the tone for the season.

 

"I'm proud to participate in this presentation. This team, you can be sure, will honor the Sacred Mantle, the name of Pride of the Nation, and will win everything this year. With Póvoa, Vido, and Neto leading the way, we will regain dominance in the NBB and we will celebrate together," said the president.

 

Then, Alexandre Póvoa, the vice president of Olympic sports, recalled the victory of the Club World Cup, three years ago, which will be celebrated this Thursday (28), and also the fact that Flamengo cannot compete in the League of the Americas this year, due to problems at the Brazilian Basketball Confederation.

 

"Next Thursday, we'll celebrate three years since winning the World Cup. And we'll also celebrate the Copa do Brasil in soccer. It's a happy coincidence. We're very proud of the victory, but Flamengo has to win again. After a long time, Flamengo lost in the NBB. And they took away our right to compete in the Liga das Américas, which we won on the court. Flamengo is an example of management, and we were punished for a governance issue by the CBB. On the court, of course, we were going to lose one day, but we discussed it and realized our mistakes and corrected them. We brought in four reinforcements. The group is never complete, but this is the basis for returning to Brazilian and South American dominance and, who knows, playing in the World Cup again," said Póvoa, who handed the floor to Marcelo Vido.

 

The CEO also expressed confidence in the team and emphasized that the events of last season served as a learning experience for the next.

 

"Last season really hurt the red-and-black fans, the basketball professionals, and the team. The Campeonato Carioca had games without fans, and they took away our right to compete in the Liga das Américas. In addition to our elimination from the playoffs, what we learned from this is the lessons learned. What we made mistakes and what we failed to do. I have no doubt that this year will be the year to go after those titles. And to go for the sixth NBB title in 10 years." 

 

The last to speak was coach José Neto, who praised the attitude of the newly formed squad and what the team's philosophy will be for the year.

 

"The expectation is to fight for every title we'll compete for. We've already started work, and that's the goal. The squad is highly motivated and understands what it means to be Flamengo. We'll play in very tough competitions, starting from the first stage of the NBB. Other teams may have more money or better players, but they'll never be Flamengo. They'll never have Flamengo's style. And that's what we'll strive for every day," the coach concluded.

The basketball teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo receive funding from their sponsors – Estácio, AmBev, Rede D'or, IRB Brasil RE, CSN, Brasil Plural, and EY – via the Federal Incentive Law/Ministry of Sports (IR) and the State Incentive Law/Rio de Janeiro State Secretariat of Sports, Recreation, and Youth (Seelje), in addition to support from the Brazilian Club Committee (CBC) resulting from the decentralization of resources generated by the Pelé Law. The Anjo da Guarda Rubro-Negro Project, a personal tax transfer, benefits all Olympic sports of the Most Beloved.