José Neto praises the strength and focus of the red-black squad against Minas
Coach also commented on JP Batista and projected Game 3 of the series
By Mariana Sa - inOn Tuesday night (17), Flamengo beat Minas 101 to 74 and secured their second victory in the quarterfinal series of the Novo Basquete Brasil. After the match, coach José Neto spoke to the press and highlighted the power of the strong red-black group.
"When we put together the team, we only thought about being able to use the squad we have. I don't believe we won a championship thinking about winning one or two matches. When you don't have a squad, you're subject to that. So we put together the team thinking precisely about those moments when we'll need greater rotation, when players will need to play with intensity most of the time. The idea is to use the players we have to perform at that strength," said Neto.
One of the best players on the court, JP Batista had 23 points and seven rebounds, receiving a standing ovation from the nation during the match. "JP was very solid and consistent throughout the championship. This time was no different. He dominates the court, knows exactly what to do, and helps the team immensely. In this match, he was a standout player, but I believe one of our team's strengths is the versatility of the squad. It's good that someone can stand out in every game," the coach added.
Flamengo returns to the court on Thursday (19), at 19:30 pm, when they face Minas in Game 3 of the NBB10 quarterfinals. "We'll look for victory in the next match, as we always do. We have to maintain this focus, increase the team's rhythm, because we know it's important to play with intensity against a team like Minas. We knew that they, while they would come tired from a grueling series like this, would arrive strong and motivated. We have to know how to use the strength of the squad to stand out," analyzed José Neto.
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.