Flamengo debuts in the 2018 Rio de Janeiro Basketball Championship
Mais Querido will face Niterói, Vasco and Botafogo in the State Championship
By Mariana Sa - in
The Rio de Janeiro Basketball Championship is back. After being canceled last year, the competition returns to Rio de Janeiro and features four teams: Flamengo, Vasco, Botafogo, and Niterói. Seeking its thirteenth consecutive title, the "Mais Querido" has a new roster, a new coach, and many big goals for the start of the new season.
With 44 Rio de Janeiro trophies in its history, FlaBasquete has the chance to start the tournament on the right foot. This Saturday (18), at 11 am, Rubro-Negro goes to Oscar Zelaya Gymnasium in General Severiano will face Botafogo. It's worth noting that, by order of security agencies, the match will be played with only one fan from the opposing team.
Check out everything you need to know about the dispute below:
The opponents
Botafogo
Botafogo enters the State Championship with a revamped squad, different from the one that competed in the NBB. With Leonardo Figueiró, former assistant coach of Caxias do Sul, as manager, the black-and-white team also features former red-and-black Mogi.
Niteroi
ABIG/Niterói Basquete Clube begins its journey in the Carioca Championship and is a newcomer to the tournament. The team boasts veterans such as Luiz Otávio Guimarães, known as Mingau, as coach, and point guard Danielzinho, both world champions with Flamengo. They also feature shooting guard Gabriel Andrade and center Douglas Sales, both LDB champions with Flamengo. The team has been in existence since 2013 and turned professional last year.
Vasco
Vasco also underwent a complete overhaul and is starting the season from scratch. Led by Alberto Bial, former coach of Basquete Cearense, the team also features Duda Machado, who previously played for Flamengo.
Dispute format
The tournament will be played in two-legged matches, with all teams facing each other at home and away. The semifinals will then be a best-of-three series, with the first-place team facing the fourth-place team and the second-place team facing the third-place team. The final begins on September 25th and will also be played over a maximum of three matches.
Red-black cast
Who stayed
From the team that was at Mais Querido last year, winger Marquinhos, power forwards Olivinha and Anderson Varejão and center João Vitor continue to defend the Manto Sagrado.
Who arrived
Point guards Franco Balbi and Davi Rossetto, shooting guards Deryk Ramos and Kevin Crescenzi, forward Jhonatan Luz, power forward David Nesbitt, center Rafael Mineiro and coach Gustavo De Conti are the new faces.
Base
Four athletes from the club's youth academy are assisting the senior squad in 2018-19. Point guards Matheusinho and João Matheus, forward Aieser, and power forward Ruan train daily with the senior squad and are available to coach Gustavinho.
Last edition - title in 2016
Despite not being played in 2017, Flamengo holds the title of reigning Carioca champion. After finishing the qualifying stage with five wins and one loss, Flamengo won the semifinal against Botafogo 2-0 two years ago.
In the final, Flamengo came out on top, defeating Vasco 89-87 at the Hélio Maurício gymnasium. At São Januário, the opposing team came out on top with a 104-98 victory. The decisive match, scheduled to take place at the Tijuca Tennis Club, was canceled, and Vasco suffered a loss, confirming Mengo's title.
See how the last training session went on FlaTV, and Gustavinho and Deryk's expectations
Calendar
18/08, at 11am: Botafogo x Flamengo, at the Oscar Zelaya Gymnasium (General Severiano)
21/08, at 20pm: Flamengo x Niterói, at the Helio Maurício Gymnasium (Gávea)
25/08, at 17pm: Flamengo x Vasco, at Tijuca Tennis Club
28/08, at 20pm: Flamengo x Botafogo, at Tijuca Tennis Club
1/09, at 14 pm: Vasco x Flamengo, at the Deodoro Olympic Arena
08/09: Niterói x Flamengo, at the ABEL Institute Gymnasium (Niterói)
Tickets
The State Championship will have a single crowd for the classics. Therefore, Flamengo will not have the support of the Nation in its debut, but will receive its fans next Tuesday (21), at 20 pm, against Niterói in Gávea. Tickets for this and the other two games will be sold at https://www.guicheweb.com.br/flamengo.