José Neto: "We want to become a reference"
The red-and-black coach praises the team's achievements and believes in elevating Brazilian basketball to an international level; secure your tickets for the final
By Communication - Official Club Website - in
On Thursday afternoon (September 25.09), Flamengo's point guard Marcelinho and Flamengo coach José Neto stood side by side with representatives of Maccabi Tel Aviv at the press conference for the Club World Cup at the HSBC Arena. Completing the panel were Jordi Bertomeu, president and CEO of the Euroleague, Usie Richards, president of FIBA Americas, and FIBA secretary general Alberto Garcia. The arena will also host the two games between Flamengo and Maccabi, who are battling for the title on September 26 (at 21:30 pm) and 28 (at 12 pm). Get your tickets for the matches now.
Marcelinho recalled that the team's preparation time was short, but 80% of the main squad had been playing for their country's national team. "We've played in other championships, and of the 10 main players in our squad, eight have played for the national team. Our Director Marcelo Vido is here, and he's already taught us how important it is to win a title like this," he said, recalling the Flamengo Olympic Sports director, a world champion as an athlete in 1979.
Aware of the importance of Flamengo's achievement in reaching the Intercontinental Cup final, Neto hopes that Flamengo can serve as a benchmark for other clubs in the country and that Brazilian basketball continues to grow. "We're not just looking at this as two games. Maccabi is a great team, and we know how much they represent to world basketball. Flamengo has a new vision of becoming a benchmark in Brazilian basketball. We don't just want to win titles—of course that helps—but we want to serve as an example in terms of information and structure; we want to elevate Brazilian basketball to an international level. Flamengo represents Brazilian basketball in this Intercontinental Cup, and I'm very happy. I'm sure that in these games, our team will give everything it has to confirm this attitude," he concluded.
Marcelinho recalled that the team's preparation time was short, but 80% of the main squad had been playing for their country's national team. "We've played in other championships, and of the 10 main players in our squad, eight have played for the national team. Our Director Marcelo Vido is here, and he's already taught us how important it is to win a title like this," he said, recalling the Flamengo Olympic Sports director, a world champion as an athlete in 1979.
Aware of the importance of Flamengo's achievement in reaching the Intercontinental Cup final, Neto hopes that Flamengo can serve as a benchmark for other clubs in the country and that Brazilian basketball continues to grow. "We're not just looking at this as two games. Maccabi is a great team, and we know how much they represent to world basketball. Flamengo has a new vision of becoming a benchmark in Brazilian basketball. We don't just want to win titles—of course that helps—but we want to serve as an example in terms of information and structure; we want to elevate Brazilian basketball to an international level. Flamengo represents Brazilian basketball in this Intercontinental Cup, and I'm very happy. I'm sure that in these games, our team will give everything it has to confirm this attitude," he concluded.