Gustavo De Conti guarantees that Flamengo will face Orlando to win
Coach comments on rule changes, opponent's style of play and importance of friendly for Rubro-Negro
By Lucas Dantas - in
The time is coming. Even for someone who has already competed in the World Cup, the Olympics, and faced the Dream Team, Gustavo De Conti can't hide his excitement about leading Flamengo against the Orlando Magic next Friday (05) in Florida. Kickoff will begin at 20 p.m. at the Amway Center in Orlando for the third meeting between the two teams. In 2014, in the USA, the Americans won 106-88 in Florida. A year later, in Rio, they won again, 90-73, at Arena da Barra. Now, the team will face the Americans again, on their home turf.
Fear? No. Respect, yes. For Gustavinho, Flamengo will take the court knowing they'll face a formidable opponent, but the team wants to win and make basketball history. Since 1999, when the San Antonio Spurs defeated Vasco 103-68 in their first game against Brazilian teams, no Brazilian team has defeated an NBA team in a friendly. And to make that happen this time, Gustavo will go all out and focus on achieving a historic victory.
"A "We're going to go with full force, to do our best and even win the game. That's the board's idea. We set goals, and one of them is to try to win the game and not spare anyone," said the coach, who also commented on the rule changes Flamengo will have to get used to as the game progresses.
"We'll play by their rules. The ball is different, and that changes a lot. There's the defense, which can't get close to the box, the three-point line, and the playing time, which is crucial. It will be 48 minutes, not 40. Flamengo plays with a lot of speed and intensity, so we'll have to have a squad that can handle the minutes."
The Orlando Magic is certainly a different team than the one Flamengo will face in the NBB and the South American League. Completely different schools. For Gustavo, this could be an important point for Flamengo for the rest of the season. With a test at this level, the team can learn several lessons to use against its other opponents.
"We're raising the bar. They're a great team, one we'll hardly face for the rest of the season, and it will be a great test because of that."
Flamengo was directly invited by the Orlando Magic to participate in the friendly match in preparation for the NBA season. Typically, teams are invited through partnerships and agreements between the North American organization and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). The invitation demonstrates Flamengo's importance on the national stage and also its international prominence. They have won five NBB titles, as well as a League of the Americas title and the Club World Cup. For Gustavo, the friendly match symbolizes all of this, giving the "Mais Querido" another opportunity to showcase its strength against the best basketball in the world.
"It's a very special game. It wasn't a FIBA or NBA partnership, and they ended up choosing a Brazilian club. It was a direct invitation from Orlando to Flamengo. This carries a lot of weight and importance. It's recognition of Flamengo's stature. Playing in Orlando, with a team capable of playing on equal terms, the weight of the jersey, which draws fans and fills the stadium. It's a very special moment for Flamengo," concluded Gustavinho.
Check out the full interview in the video below.
Orlando Magic vs. Flamengo will be broadcast on ESPN, SPORTV, and NBA League Pass, as well as on our social media channels.
The Flamengo Regatas basketball teams receive funding from their sponsors – Thinkseg, TIM, 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), as well as support from the Brazilian Club Committee (CBC) through the decentralization of funds from the Pelé Law. The Flamengo Guardian Angel Project, a personal tax transfer, benefits all Olympic sports of the club.