The Mais Querido Under-13 basketball team is in the final of the 2017 state championship. This Wednesday (22), the team beat Botafogo, in General Severiano, by 50 to 36, closing the best of 3 series in the second game and guaranteeing a place in the grand final. The other semifinal match, in Gávea, was won by 54 to 50. 

With 12 wins in 14 games in the tournament, Flamengo arrives at the final in second place overall, behind their next opponents, Clube Central.

Coach of Mais Querido, Nelson Mourão commented on the team's performance in the semifinals.

"Compared to the first game, this one was much better. In the first, we were very nervous and rushed several balls in defense and attack, we overcame ourselves and managed to turn a 16-point lead. Yesterday we still made some mistakes, normal for our age, but we managed to control the match, staying ahead on the scoreboard practically the entire game. In the end, we locked in the defense and the medium and short-range balls destabilized Botafogo," he says. 

Regarding the next challenge, the coach is confident about his team's work throughout the tournament. 

"We're managing to take this category to the fourth final in a row. The boys are focused and aware of what this decision will entail, and everything we've done this year will be rewarded. In this final stretch, there's not much to do; they already know each other, and preparation is focused on technical and mental work and rest, since some are still in school exams," Nelson concludes. 

The first match of the final is scheduled for December 10th, at 10:30 am, at the Abel Institute, in Niterói.