Balance dictated the clash this Tuesday (24) at the Hélio Maurício gymnasium, in Gávea. Facing Minas Tênis Clube in a duel valid for the Brazilian Interclub Championship, the 2017 Basketball Development League, Flamengo battled until the end and tied the game in the last minutes of the final quarter. However, Mais Querido was unable to hold the opponent and, in overtime, lost 63 to 62.

Coach Rodrigo Carlos analyzed the match against Minas Gerais. "It was a very tough loss. We started the game well, executing our strategy well. However, it's normal for players to fluctuate a lot in this category. We're playing without João Vitor, a key player in the paint. I think the team was very brave. We were seven points down at the start of the fourth quarter, and we were able to turn that around. The guys coming off the bench helped a lot, and we even had a chance to win in regulation, but we couldn't. The match was very even, but we couldn't win. Now it's time to forget the loss and focus on Franca. We're improving with each game; they're understanding our play and reading the game better, which is very important," he said.

In the first quarter, the teams began by studying each other closely and managed to put up a strong fight on the court. With the opening score at 13-13, the second quarter began evenly, ending with a one-point lead at halftime and a 32-31 score.

In the second half, Minas dominated the action in the third quarter, losing to Flamengo in the final period and seeing the red-and-black team take the match to overtime in the final seconds with a beautiful three-pointer from Danilo. However, the Pride of the Nation couldn't control the clock and ended up losing 63-62. With a double-double (15 points and 12 rebounds), Sorriso was Flamengo's standout player on the court.

Closing the first stage of the competition's initial phase, FlaBasquete hosts Sesi/Franca at 10:45 am in Gávea. For coach Rodrigo, talking with the players before and after matches is crucial. "It's important to learn the positives from defeats too. It's about acknowledging that we made mistakes, but also knowing where we succeeded. We try to do this in our post-match conversations. Basketball is a game of details, and sometimes players may not notice them. I always show them videos to show them what we need to do in the plays, as well as to instill confidence. The championship is long, and we still have a stage in the Paulistano. We have to strive for each game and give our best. I'm sure we'll enter with a better attitude to achieve this victory," he concluded.

The basketball teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo receive funding from their sponsors – Estácio, AmBev, Rede D'or, IRB Brasil RE, CSN, Brasil Plural, and EY – via the Federal Incentive Law/Ministry of Sports (IR) and the State Incentive Law/Rio de Janeiro State Secretariat of Sports, Recreation, and Youth (Seelje), in addition to support from the Brazilian Club Committee (CBC) resulting from the decentralization of resources generated by the Pelé Law. The Anjo da Guarda Rubro-Negro Project, a personal tax transfer, benefits all Olympic sports of the Most Beloved.