After a week with two Rio classics, Flamengo prepares for two more challenges in the New Basketball Brazil (NBB). The red-black team faces São Paulo on Thursday (3), at 21 pm, and Paulistano on Sunday (6), at 11 am, both at Maracanãzinho. Thursday's match will be broadcast on SporTV and FlaTV+, while Sunday's match will be broadcast live and with images, with red-black commentary, through FlamengoTV.

The FlaBasquete squad returned to training on Monday to begin preparations for the matches. The team, led by Sergio Hernández, aims to maintain its momentum and solidify its position at the top of the standings.

The duel between Flamengo and São Paulo has gained increasing relevance in the NBB. In 2021, the teams decided the championship, with the Rubro-Negro prevailing in the final. Two years later, in 2023, it was the tricolor's turn to eliminate Flamengo in the semifinals. This season, the São Paulo team won the first round at home. Against Paulistano, Flamengo also has a good record, having beaten the team in the first round away from home. Last year, Flamengo defeated Paulistano in one of the most exciting matches of the season, en route to their third Super 8 title, with a basket in the final seconds.

Franco Balbi reinforced the group's motivation for the matches. "These are two very important matches; we want to maintain our position in the standings. We're training hard, preparing to do our best on the court. We have an important run until the end of the qualifying phase, and we're always working to get as far as possible," he concluded.

In addition to its NBB commitments, Flamengo remains focused on the Champions League Americas (BCLA). The Final Four will take place on April 18th and 19th at Maracanãzinho. In the semifinals, it will face Franca. Boca Jrs and Instituto Córdoba, from Argentina, complete the final four.

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