The fourth interviewee in the "Free Throw" series is young Pedro Nunes. A promising Brazilian basketball prospect, the shooting guard played his first professional season and shared a bit of his journey with the Mais Querido's Official Website.

First contact with basketball

"I was eight years old and playing futsal at the time. My brother Lucas was diagnosed with autism and was medically advised to play a team sport. Since my father played basketball until he was 19, he chose to play. My practices ended early, so my father would always pick me up and we would soon go watch him train. I noticed he had some difficulty. One day someone was missing and they couldn't complete the team, and I volunteered to join and help my brother. After that, I ended up quitting futsal and dedicating myself to basketball."

The moment he realized he wanted to be a professional gamer

"I left home very early, at 13 or 14 years old, to live in Europe. It was a very difficult decision for me and my family. At first, my mother didn't want me to go to Europe, but rather to São Paulo, as it was closer and we could see each other more often. But I thought it was a unique opportunity and insisted on going to Spain. Before accepting, my mother told me she would only let me go if I promised to dedicate myself completely and assured her that this was what I wanted for my life, as it would be very difficult for her and our family. I assured her that I would take it seriously and work hard throughout my career. From that day on, I was certain that this was what I wanted for my life, and to this day I strive and dedicate myself not only for myself, but also for all the effort my family has made and continues to make to enable me to pursue my dream." 

The first game as a professional

"I was 16 years old, playing in Spain, and I made my debut for CB Prat, in the LEB Oro (second division of the Spanish League), which was linked to my former club, Joventut Badalona. It was a game against Barcelona B, the Catalan team's representative in the LEB Oro, and I clearly remember coming on in the last four minutes and being able to score two points and grab two rebounds. It was a unique feeling, especially because I was able to experience that feeling so young. It will definitely be a moment I will remember for the rest of my life."

remarkable games

"There was a game in January 2015. I played in the semifinals of an under-15 tournament against Barcelona, ​​and it happened to be my first game against them. Since I was playing in the senior category and had seen me play before, they marked me full-court the entire game with double-teams and assists. Until three minutes remained in the last quarter, I hadn't scored. We were down by seven points, and in those three minutes I scored my team's last 7 points, and we ended up winning by two points. It was a game that had a big impact on me, because even though I was so young and in a difficult situation, my will to win overcame the challenge."

Arrival at Flamengo

"I arrived at Flamengo in July 2019, and since the professional team was on vacation, I joined the under-19 team to do the preseason. My first game with Flamengo was a victory against São Cristóvão, in the Super Basketball League, and I was the top scorer of the game with 22 points. With the adult team, I debuted in the Campeonato Carioca against the Niterói team."

What could be decisive in winning the second Americas championship?

"For me, the main factor will be post-pandemic training. We're living through a very difficult time, where we can't train as a group, which hinders and hinders our preparation. So, as soon as we can return to normal activities, we need to focus and dedicate ourselves to the maximum, especially in our physical, tactical, and mental preparation, so that we can be prepared for this important final."

Moment that serves as inspiration for the grand finale

"I don't think it's possible to forget the game against Instituto. A decisive match in the Basketball Champions League semifinals, where we fought for a 20-point comeback at the Maracanãzinho Stadium. It was a unique experience and a great learning experience for me. I witnessed the team's determination to turn around such a difficult situation in the most important championship in all of America. It was definitely the best basketball game I've ever seen in my life."

The basketball teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo rely on resources from their sponsors – BRB, TIM, AmBev, Rede D'or, IRB Brasil RE, CSN, Brasil Plural, EY – via the Federal Incentive Law/Ministry of Sports (IR) and State Incentive Law/State Secretariat of Sports, Leisure and Youth (Seelje) of Rio de Janeiro, in addition to support from the Brazilian Club Committee (CBC).