Flamengo vs Bauru: what has changed since the 2014/2015 final
Coach José Neto, current three-time national champion with Flamengo, talks about the teams that repeat last season's decision
By Isabela Abirached and Raiana Monteiro - in
This season, Flamengo and Bauru will face off for the second consecutive time in a best-of-five series to win the NBB CAIXA trophy. The teams are well-known: since the tournament's first edition (2008/2009), the finalists have faced each other 27 times (16 qualifying matches, seven playoffs, and three finals), including Game 1 of this year's finals. The record favors Flamengo, who have won 20 and lost only seven.
The final in 2015
Last season, the final was played over two games, the first at Arena da Barra and the second in Marília. Flamengo took another trophy to Gávea playing away from home, with a 77-67 victory. In Rio, José Neto's team won 91-69—the largest point difference in NBB final history—so a third duel was unnecessary.
According to the Flamengo coach, the clubs are repeating themselves but are very different on the court compared to the 2015 final. "A lot has changed. We changed the way our team plays because of the different players (Ronald Ramon, Rafael Mineiro, Rafa Luz, Jason Robinson and JP Batista joined Flamengo after the victory). Bauru kept the base, but changed the coach (Guerrinha left and Demétrius came in)," said Neto.
In the three playoffs in which it faced Bauru, Flamengo came out victorious: in 2010/2011 and 2013/2014, the teams faced off in the quarterfinals and Rubro-Negro closed the series 3-1. In 2014/2015, Orgulho da Nação was crowned four-time champion - three in a row - with a 2-0 victory in the best-of-three series.
In this edition of the NBB, in the qualifying phase, each team won their home match. Bauru emerged victorious in the championship opener (77 to 73) and, in Rio de Janeiro, the Mais Querido came out on top (85 to 69). In Game 1 of the finals, Flamengo prevailed. Now, our stars face Games 2 and 3 of the series, at home, at Arena Carioca 2. The ball goes up at 17 pm this Thursday (26), and at 14:10 pm on Saturday (28).
The final in 2015
Last season, the final was played over two games, the first at Arena da Barra and the second in Marília. Flamengo took another trophy to Gávea playing away from home, with a 77-67 victory. In Rio, José Neto's team won 91-69—the largest point difference in NBB final history—so a third duel was unnecessary.
According to the Flamengo coach, the clubs are repeating themselves but are very different on the court compared to the 2015 final. "A lot has changed. We changed the way our team plays because of the different players (Ronald Ramon, Rafael Mineiro, Rafa Luz, Jason Robinson and JP Batista joined Flamengo after the victory). Bauru kept the base, but changed the coach (Guerrinha left and Demétrius came in)," said Neto.In the three playoffs in which it faced Bauru, Flamengo came out victorious: in 2010/2011 and 2013/2014, the teams faced off in the quarterfinals and Rubro-Negro closed the series 3-1. In 2014/2015, Orgulho da Nação was crowned four-time champion - three in a row - with a 2-0 victory in the best-of-three series.
In this edition of the NBB, in the qualifying phase, each team won their home match. Bauru emerged victorious in the championship opener (77 to 73) and, in Rio de Janeiro, the Mais Querido came out on top (85 to 69). In Game 1 of the finals, Flamengo prevailed. Now, our stars face Games 2 and 3 of the series, at home, at Arena Carioca 2. The ball goes up at 17 pm this Thursday (26), and at 14:10 pm on Saturday (28).