Gustavo De Conti talks about the quality and options of the red-black squad
After another victory, the coach highlights the changes and the level of the team he leads.
By Lucas Dantas - inFive games in charge of Flamengo, five wins. The team dominates the State Championship, comfortably leading the way and showing improvement with each game. A team that combines speed and plenty of long shots, as well as constant changes on the court. This is the scenario Gustavo De Conti has been describing at FlaBasquete, and it was evident once again at the end of this Saturday's round. Flamengo defeated Vasco da Gama 87-64 at the Deodoro Olympic Arena, solidifying its lead in the Campeonato Carioca. Next Saturday (08), Mengão will play against Niterói in the final round of the qualifying round.
In the derby victory, Gustavinho once again used all his available players. Even the youngest players, like Aieser, had their chance on the court. The sheer number of options has made the coach's job much more relaxed during this phase of getting to know his players before the season's main competitions.
"The changes and strategies with the players you have at Flamengo, who are highly skilled and technical, become easier. Because of their quality, I'm not having any problems getting across the tactics. So, offensively and defensively, we're able to apply our game plan," Gustavo explained after the match.
With their lead firmly in place, Flamengo will face Niterói just to fulfill their schedule, but they'll have the opportunity to test a new game and a new idea. With a week to go, the coach will have to assemble the team for the game on Saturday at 17 p.m. Three players will be definitely missing: Anderson Varejão, Jhonatan, and Rafael Mineiro were called up to the Brazilian national team for games against Canada and the Virgin Islands. In addition, the team may release players for the Basketball Development League, which will have its first game on September 10th in Gávea.
Even though Niterói is a team in different conditions than the others in the State Championship, Gustavo De Conti asks for respect for Saturday's opponent.
"We have respect for all the teams. They've made a new signing, Pitico, who played very well in the last NBB tournaments. Their team started out lacking chemistry, but has improved. And we'll be without three players who are going to the national team and two to the LDB. So we'll have to reinvent ourselves. It's an important game that counts for the remainder of the season, and whoever plays will have to represent Flamengo," concluded the coach.
The basketball teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo receive funding from their sponsors – thinkseg, Estácio, 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 from the Pelé Law. The Anjo da Guarda Rubro-Negro Project, a personal tax transfer, benefits all Olympic sports of the Most Beloved.