Flamengo begins, this Monday (29), its journey in the NBB Opening Tournament, a pre-season competition that serves as preparation for the start of the New Basketball Brazil (NBB). The Rubro-Negro faces Fortaleza, at 20 pm, at Arena BRB Nilson Nelson, in Brasília, with free entry for the public and exclusive broadcast on Metrópoles' YouTube channel. Tomorrow, Tuesday (30), the Pride of the Nation returns to the court to face Pato Basquete, at 17:30 pm.

In its second edition, the tournament features 12 teams, divided into four groups of three teams each. In the first phase, matches are played in a single round. From there, the clubs advance to the playoff for positions: the leaders of each group compete for the title, the second-place teams compete for 5th-8th place, and the third-place teams battle for 9th-12th place. With this format, each team is guaranteed four matches, regardless of their final standings.

Rubro-Negro coach Sérgio Hernandez emphasized the importance of participating in the tournament at this stage of preparation. "It's a great opportunity for us to compete in this competition. Each team is guaranteed four games, regardless of their first-round position. And that's perfect; it's ideal for the stage of preparation we're in," he stated.

The manager also emphasized the tournament's importance in the team's development. "We're coming off an extremely tough start to the season, like the Club World Cup. Now we're entering a reality that's a little more similar to what we'll experience in the NBB. This will allow us to continue maturing as a team, both through the matches we'll play, the training sessions we'll have there, and the week-long experience together. All of this will contribute significantly to the team's growth," he added.

Last season, Flamengo finished third in the Opening Tournament, an edition with six teams. This year, the number of participants doubled, reinforcing the importance of preparing for the NBB, which will kick off for the Red-Blacks on October 18th, against Bauru, away from home.

The squad that traveled to Brasília includes: Alexey and Dee Bost (point guards); Shaq Johnson, Alex Negrete and Daniel Onwenu (shooting guards); Gui Deodato and Jhonatan Luz (wings); Kayo Gonçalves and Vitor Cauã (power forwards); and Wesley and Emanuel (centers).