It was a sunny Sunday, and the red-and-black fans arrived at the Barra Arena with a single thought: overturning Maccabi Tel Aviv's lead in the first leg of the Intercontinental Cup final. To begin this beautiful story, let's go back to September 26, 09.

In the first game of the series, Flamengo took the court for the biggest challenge in its history, competing in the most important club tournament in the world. The Red-Black Nation's nervousness was reflected in the players on the court. The match began with many errors and a slight superiority for the Israeli team.

Warrior Walter Herrmann, the Argentine Olympic champion who was one of the names of the Mais Querido team for the final, began to inspire hope among the Flamengo fans present in the gymnasium. The grit and fight of "Conde," as he was known, affected the entire team, and Flamengo came out on top, asserted itself, and defended as best it could, taking the lead. Until the end of the third quarter, FlaBasquete's advantage prevailed, and the Nation responded in the stands.

The ice appeared. Like a cold shower after a cauldron engulfed in flames, Haynes breathed life into Maccabi. He was frightening. Nerves took their toll, and we were defeated in the first final. Winger Marquinhos had already said upon leaving the match that the final was an eight-quarter game, and the visitors' three-point lead meant almost nothing. He promised.

Returning to that unforgettable sunny Sunday, September 28, 09, the stage was set for a grand celebration. All the participants in this spectacle were on the bench. The synergy was contagious for everyone who passed through the turnstiles at Arena da Barra.

The orange ball rose, and the rock-cold Israelis opened up a seven-point lead. Fear? Nervousness? Not here! This is Flamengo! Marquinhos had promised and delivered. With a beautiful three-pointer, he put the Pride of the Nation back in the game. Swayed by the chant from the stands, it couldn't have been any different. It's grit, it's love, it's passion. Like a maestro, Nicolás Laprovittola conducted the FlaBasquete orchestra. Jerome Meyinsse constantly reminded everyone of the joy of being a Flamengo fan. Olivinha left his soul on the field. Marcelinho... was simply Marcelinho. A genius.

A very ungrateful guest wanted to spoil the party: Jeremy Pargo. The point guard insisted on leaving Maccabi in the game, and Flamengo couldn't neutralize the American. Until a new player entered the scene: Vitor Benite. The number eight asked coach José Neto to mark Pargo, a fact he later revealed in a press interview. He asked, and he did! Stealing the ball from the American, the point guard finished with a basket that brought the Arena to a boil and reminded everyone that we are one. We are Flamengo!

The coach who started the journey back in 2013, with the NBB and Liga das Américas titles, was reaching the pinnacle of his career. Like a great chess player, our manager José Neto perfectly fitted all the pieces together for success and made his mark in the club's history as the greatest coach in the sport.

The pressure turned, the visitors felt it. If they didn't know us, they'll never forget us. Eight points ahead. Fifty seconds. The sunny Sunday, incredibly, managed to get even brighter. Time passed, the tears arrived. Tears of joy filled everyone present at Arena da Barra. Even before the end, the ball had been thrown into the air. We are champions! World champions!

With the greatest representation that we are all Flamengo fans, the fans in the gym invaded the court and embraced our heroes. In the arms of the club's greatest asset, Olivinha, representing over 40 million, screamed from the rooftops. Marquinhos' promise at the end of the first game? Fulfilled. Marcelinho? Confirmed his status as the greatest idol in the history of Flamengo basketball. Meyinsse had been baptized as both a Brazilian and a Flamengo fan. Laprovittola? MVP!

*Under supervision of Raiana Monteiro.