Flamengo debuts this Tuesday in the Interligas Tournament
The competition will be played between the main basketball teams from Brazil and Argentina.
By press office - in
Flamengo, second in the qualifying round of the New Basketball Brazil, will not play again in the competition until April 23rd, in the first round of the playoffs. While awaiting their opponent, who will emerge from the round of 16 in a playoff between fifth and twelfth place, the red-and-black team will turn its attention from April 6th to 8th to the Interleague Tournament, which will bring together the top four Brazilian teams in the NBB and the four best teams from Argentina. The eight teams will be divided into two groups: one in Brasília, which will include Flamengo, Juventut Sionista, and Libertad Sunchales, in addition to the home team, and another in Del Plata, with Atenas, Penarol, Franca, and Minas. The two winners of each group will contest the final in a single match.
The Rio de Janeiro team's debut will be this Tuesday at 19 p.m. against Juventut Sionista, third in the Argentine League, while Universo/Brasília and Libertad Sunchales, fourth, face each other at 21 p.m. Both matches will be played at the Nilson Nelson Gymnasium in Brasília.
Flamengo's captain, winger Marcelinho, supports the tournament. However, the club's main player doesn't hide his concern about the team's physical strain. After all, the club has been plagued by injury problems since the beginning of the season.
"It's a valid and very cool initiative to boost South American basketball. The Argentines and the team from Brasília are tough opponents, but they will serve as preparation for us to reach the playoffs 100%. My only concern is the physical wear and tear our team has been suffering at the beginning of the season," explained the red-and-black winger.
Although he believes the competition will help some players returning from injuries, such as Jefferson and Colonese, as well as power forward Vitor, who hasn't played much and should have more opportunities, get some playing time, Chupeta would prefer the competition to be held during the preseason. In contrast, the red-and-black coach hopes to benefit primarily from the matches against Argentine teams.
"It's a delicate time to be playing in a parallel competition. We're on the eve of the playoffs, and we can't be too careful. However, the exchange against Argentine teams is always important, especially since some of these teams will likely be our opponents in the Liga de las Américas and Liga Sudamericana in the second half of the year," said Chupeta.
The Rio de Janeiro team's debut will be this Tuesday at 19 p.m. against Juventut Sionista, third in the Argentine League, while Universo/Brasília and Libertad Sunchales, fourth, face each other at 21 p.m. Both matches will be played at the Nilson Nelson Gymnasium in Brasília.
Flamengo's captain, winger Marcelinho, supports the tournament. However, the club's main player doesn't hide his concern about the team's physical strain. After all, the club has been plagued by injury problems since the beginning of the season.
"It's a valid and very cool initiative to boost South American basketball. The Argentines and the team from Brasília are tough opponents, but they will serve as preparation for us to reach the playoffs 100%. My only concern is the physical wear and tear our team has been suffering at the beginning of the season," explained the red-and-black winger.
Although he believes the competition will help some players returning from injuries, such as Jefferson and Colonese, as well as power forward Vitor, who hasn't played much and should have more opportunities, get some playing time, Chupeta would prefer the competition to be held during the preseason. In contrast, the red-and-black coach hopes to benefit primarily from the matches against Argentine teams.
"It's a delicate time to be playing in a parallel competition. We're on the eve of the playoffs, and we can't be too careful. However, the exchange against Argentine teams is always important, especially since some of these teams will likely be our opponents in the Liga de las Américas and Liga Sudamericana in the second half of the year," said Chupeta.