Leading the NBB alongside Uberlândia and Pinheiros, Flamengo faces another challenge in the competition. The red-and-black team, which has four wins in five games (80% success rate), faces Liga Sorocabana, a tournament debutant, this Saturday (December 03.12) at 18:15 pm at the Tijuca Tênis Clube gymnasium. Tickets cost R$20. Fans wearing a Flamengo shirt pay R$10.

\

The game will be Leandrinho's last for Flamengo before the NBA season begins. He's under contract with the Toronto Raptors and played for Flamengo during the American League strike. More than a farewell, the match will be a celebration of the good times Leandrinho experienced at Flamengo.

\

Since arriving at Gávea in September, the athlete has played 14 games (the 15th will be played on Saturday): four friendlies (Brasília, Uberlândia (2) and Tijuca); two in the State Championship (finals against Tijuca); three in the South American League (UTE, Boston College and Atenas); and five in the NBB (Paulistano, Pinheiros, Minas, Brasília and Bauru). So far, there have been 12 victories. He also secured a title (seventh state title), a spot in the hexagonal of the South American League and the leadership of the NBB.

\

"I can say it was a wonderful period in my career. I can only thank Patrícia Amorim (club president), Cristina Callou (vice president of Olympic Sports), the board, coach Gonzalo Garcia, my teammates, and everyone who works with basketball at the club. Everyone welcomed me with open arms and made me feel at home. And the fans? I don't even have enough to say... Flamengo fans are passionate and welcomed me here. When I arrived, they told me that wearing the red and black jersey had a different flavor. And it really does. It's indescribable," said an emotional Leandrinho. "My time at Flamengo only helped my career. I matured a lot. Besides, it was a pleasure to return to play in the country after so long away. Brazilian basketball has evolved a lot," he added.

\

Coach Gonzalo Garcia believes that Leandrinho's time at Flamengo helped the team a lot:

\

"It was a leap in quality for the team. Leandrinho is a very skilled player, a hard worker, who gave 100% of his time to the team. I learned a lot from him," the coach revealed.

\

Captain Marcelinho agrees:

\

"Leandrinho is a great team player, he has an impressive talent and I'm very sorry he has to leave. But we'll have to learn how to play without him from now on," he concluded.

\