Flamengo's basketball team is back to its usual rhythm: a veritable marathon of games. After a grueling South American League match in Argentina last week and a winning debut in the New Basketball Brazil (NBB) last Sunday, Flamengo turns its attention to the 2009 Rio State Championship. This Wednesday, Marcelinho and company face Cabo Frio at 20 p.m. in the sixth round of the competition, in which the team from Gávea maintains its undisputed lead and is undefeated with 10 points (5-0). 

Flamengo is considered the heavy favorite to win the title, but despite this, winger Marcelinho Machado, the Flamengo captain, maintains a respectful stance toward the opponent, led by his uncle, Sérgio Macarrão (former Brazilian national team player), against whom the Flamengo won last year's championship. For the player, the match against Cabo Frio will not be easy, and the team from Gávea must enter the match fully focused to leave the court with another victory.

"They are recovering in the competition, they beat Municipal in the last game and, at home, they will want to get a good result. Now the competition is entering the final stretch and, without a doubt, they are fighting for a place in the final. We have to go in focused, concentrated, and fight for the victory to stay at the top of the table", said the wing, captain of the Brazilian National Team and elected 'Best Player' of the Novo Basquete Brasil (NBB) 2009.

On Friday, the 6th, Flamengo, current two-time Brazilian champion (champion of the NBB 2009 and champion of the National Championship 2008) and four-time state champion (2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008), returns to play for the Novo Basquete Brasil at the HSBC Arena against Saldanha da Gama (ES).