Gustavo De Conti talks about Corinthians and highlights the importance of fans in the playoffs
Flamengo debuts in the quarterfinals next Saturday away from home; matches will have a single crowd
By Mariana Sa - in
Now it's time to decide. This Saturday (13), Flamengo begins the fight for a spot in the next stage of the playoffs by facing Corinthians, at 14 pm, at the Wlamir Marques gymnasium. The match will be broadcast by Band and will have only one fan base for the opposing team. For coach Gustavo De Conti, the clash between two big teams in Brazilian sport is very good for Novo Basquete Brasil.
"I think it'll be a classic that will attract a lot of fans and attention to the NBB. Corinthians is back with a vengeance this season; it's a team with a long history in basketball. They've had great teams with Oscar and Wlamir Marques, for example; the gymnasium is named after a basketball player. So, this shows the strength of the sport there. Flamengo is no different. We have a richer recent history in terms of achievements, but without a doubt, football and the size of both clubs greatly help in promoting the match. We promote basketball and the NBB for the public, not just a select few. The more people we have, the better," said the red-and-black coach.
After Game 1 in São Paulo, Mais Querido returns to Rio de Janeiro and faces Corinthians at Tijuca Tênis Clube on Wednesday (17), at 20 pm. The third match of the series is scheduled for Saturday (20), at 14 pm, at the same location. Matches four and five will be defined later according to need. Because they have the better campaign, Rubro-Negro has the advantage of playing the decisive games at home.