Gustavo De Conti: We are always aiming higher
Coach spoke exclusively to the official website about the Super 8 title and the start of 2019
By Mariana Sa - inGustavo De Conti started his Flamengo career with a strong showing. In the first half of the season, he won two trophies in four competitions, reached the semifinals of the South American League, and is fighting game by game for the title of the New Basketball Brazil. Speaking to the official website, the manager of the "Mais Querido" spoke about the challenges of 2019, the victory in the Super 8, and the next match, scheduled for Saturday (12), at 14 pm, against Corinthians.
"That intense run of matches last year was very bad for us, because we couldn't train. It was practically games and travel, with little training and little rest. We were able to work better during that international window and improved a lot. Now I believe we'll have a good run, because we'll have time to play two matches a week and train, which is normal. I think we'll grow, just like the other teams in the championship," he said.
In the last match of 2018, Rubro-Negro went to Pedrocão and beat Franca 79-75, winning the Super 8 Cup title and a spot in the 2019 Liga das Américas. With that, the squad led by Gustavo De Conti won the second title of the season, as they also took home the Campeonato Carioca trophy.
"The Super 8 title gives the team more confidence, but it doesn't mean anything. We're always aiming higher, just like the fans and the board, and we're always thinking about the next championship. What happened last year was good; we celebrated a lot, and so did the fans. But we're fully focused on the NBB. We know the pressure will be immense, from the fans and from ourselves, since we haven't won this competition in two years," explained the coach.
Flamengo takes to the court next Saturday (12), at 14 pm, against Corinthians at the Wlamir Marques gymnasium. The match is the first of the second round of the NBB qualifying phase. "They had an injury problem with their main player, Ricardo Fischer. When you lose a point guard like that, it's difficult for the team to gel. But they managed to sign very well, getting a player of similar quality (Uruguayan Luciano Parodi). The team is playing very well and also overcame this problem of lack of training, since the coach was with the national team. The game in Rio was very even and we weren't able to open up a big lead, so I think it will be a difficult match for us," added Gustavinho.
The basketball teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo receive funding from their sponsors – thinkseg, AmBev, Rede D'or, IRB Brasil RE, CSN, Brasil Plural, and EY – via the Federal Incentive Law/Ministry of Sports (IR) and the State Incentive Law/Rio de Janeiro State Secretariat of Sports, Recreation, and Youth (Seelje), in addition to support from the Brazilian Club Committee (CBC) resulting from the decentralization of resources generated by the Pelé Law. The Anjo da Guarda Rubro-Negro Project, a personal tax transfer, benefits all Olympic sports of the Most Beloved.