If this season's playoffs are anything like the last two National Basketball Championships, Flamengo and Brasília will face off in the final for the third consecutive year. If that happens, the team from the federal capital will have the advantage of playing its fifth home game thanks to its 90-83 victory over Flamengo this Sunday at the Nilson Nelson Gymnasium. Gávea captain Marcelinho Machado, however, is counting on his team's strong support to secure this title even on the road.

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The player, who scored 21 points in this weekend's match, is the top scorer in Novo Basquete Brasil and was named the best player of last season. The number 4 already has over three thousand points for Flamengo and has won three Rio de Janeiro titles, two Brazilian titles, and one South American title during his time with the club. But he won't give up on this trophy. For this, he relies on the support of the fans.

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"If Brasília and Flamengo decide the championship, they have the advantage of playing an extra game at home, but both we and they have already proven that we can win away from home. And here in Brasília, of course they are at home, but Flamengo's fans are huge, they support us a lot and make us feel at home too," he explained.

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Brasília, Flamengo, Minas Gerais, and Franca are already in the NBB quarterfinals and now await the winners of Joinville vs. Vila Velha; Pinheiros vs. Paulistano; São José vs. Araraquara; and Bauru vs. Assis. It's worth noting that in 2008, Flamengo won the national championship, defeating Brasília away from home in the final, played at the ASCEB Gymnasium. Last year, the title was won in Rio de Janeiro.