On Tuesday morning (1), in São Paulo, the National Basketball League (LNB) held the official launch event for the ninth edition of the New Basketball Brazil (NBB). Coach José Neto and athletes Ricardo Fischer and Marcelinho Machado represented Flamengo at the ceremony. The big news was the announcement by the LNB of its new partnership with Band to broadcast games on open television.
The red-black captain, the tournament's biggest champion with five titles - he was involved in all of FlaBasquete's victories -, expects great opponents ahead, who will try to interrupt the sequence of victories of Orgulho da Nação, current four-time consecutive champion
"We expect a tough, highly competitive season, with our opponents stepping up to try to stop Flamengo's run of titles, and we have to continue with our mindset of always building a better, more successful team and reaching the decisive stage of the championship as one of the title contenders. Despite my age, I still have the appetite of a young man," said Marcelinho, who also spoke of his satisfaction at defending the Manto for another season.
"It's not because I've been at Flamengo for several years that my feelings change. It's a great honor to be playing for Flamengo, a club I grew up supporting, with the generation of Zico, Junior, Adílio, Andrade and Co. at the Maracanã. If I had to think of a way to write my story at Flamengo, it might not be as good as the one I've had in these nine years at Flamengo," he declared.
The debut of Mais Querido is scheduled for this Saturday (5), at 14 pm, at the Panela de Pressão gym, against Bauru, in the re-edition of the NBB8 final - won by Rubro-Negro. In the next round, another challenge away from home, against Franca, at Pedrocão.
"The first two rounds will be very difficult games. Bauru has a very strong team, they play at home, it's difficult to face them there. And Franca too. We know that it's a championship that's decided in the playoffs, and being able to decide at home is always better. Especially when it comes to Flamengo. We'll try to do our best and look for those victories away from home," concluded Marcelinho.
The Clube de Regatas do Flamengo adult basketball team relies on direct funding from its sponsor Estácio, in addition to investments from Tim via the State Sports Incentive Law/State Secretariat for Sports, Leisure and Youth (ICMS).
The red-black captain, the tournament's biggest champion with five titles - he was involved in all of FlaBasquete's victories -, expects great opponents ahead, who will try to interrupt the sequence of victories of Orgulho da Nação, current four-time consecutive champion
"We expect a tough, highly competitive season, with our opponents stepping up to try to stop Flamengo's run of titles, and we have to continue with our mindset of always building a better, more successful team and reaching the decisive stage of the championship as one of the title contenders. Despite my age, I still have the appetite of a young man," said Marcelinho, who also spoke of his satisfaction at defending the Manto for another season.
"It's not because I've been at Flamengo for several years that my feelings change. It's a great honor to be playing for Flamengo, a club I grew up supporting, with the generation of Zico, Junior, Adílio, Andrade and Co. at the Maracanã. If I had to think of a way to write my story at Flamengo, it might not be as good as the one I've had in these nine years at Flamengo," he declared.
The debut of Mais Querido is scheduled for this Saturday (5), at 14 pm, at the Panela de Pressão gym, against Bauru, in the re-edition of the NBB8 final - won by Rubro-Negro. In the next round, another challenge away from home, against Franca, at Pedrocão.
"The first two rounds will be very difficult games. Bauru has a very strong team, they play at home, it's difficult to face them there. And Franca too. We know that it's a championship that's decided in the playoffs, and being able to decide at home is always better. Especially when it comes to Flamengo. We'll try to do our best and look for those victories away from home," concluded Marcelinho.
The Clube de Regatas do Flamengo adult basketball team relies on direct funding from its sponsor Estácio, in addition to investments from Tim via the State Sports Incentive Law/State Secretariat for Sports, Leisure and Youth (ICMS).