On June 11, 2016, Flamengo won its fourth consecutive national basketball title (fifth time in history), winning the NBB 8 in a thrilling best-of-five final against Bauru. Simply being present in that final qualified us for another participation in the 2017 Liga das Américas (also for the fourth consecutive time), which begins today, January 20th.
On November 14, 2016, we received news through the press of the intervention in the Brazilian Basketball Confederation (CBB) by the International Federation (FIBA), justified by the following reasons, in an official statement: "non-participation in international competitions; failure to organize a 3x3 World Tour event, which was to be held in Rio; lack of complete control of basketball in the country; payment delays to FIBA; and lack of a restructuring or reform plan for the organization before the elections."
The immediate effect was the suspension of the participation of Brazilian national teams and clubs in any international competition sponsored by FIBA. Since then, the National Basketball League (LNB), as the representative of the interests of the Flamengo, Bauru, and Mogi das Cruzes teams, legitimately qualified on the court for the Liga das Américas, has been leading the negotiations with FIBA to try to reverse this irrational punishment of the Brazilian clubs.
Today, the LNB is, in fact, completely independent of the CBB, constituting the entity that is making the sport grow again in the country. The credibility of the institution formed by the clubs, with a professional structure, has been winning the trust of several important sponsors, in addition to the unprecedented partnership with the NBA, which had never made this type of association with any other league in the world. We are in the ninth edition of the NBB and the success of the championship grows every year, as does the massification of the sport in the country, data proven in recent statistics.
Therefore, if FIBA aims to achieve the noble mission of helping Brazilian basketball, undermining the clubs in the National League is a real "self-inflicted wound," a monumental mistake. If a body is sick, with half healthy and the other half suffering from serious problems, removing the "good part" as well is equivalent to signing the death certificate of Brazilian basketball, at least in the short term. FIBA should focus, with all the arguments presented, on the segment that is not working; otherwise, it will only worsen the situation it is trying to address.
In the last three editions of the Liga das Américas, Flamengo's CR (Corinthians' Regional Team) won one and achieved third and fourth place on two other occasions. More importantly, Flamengo made a significant contribution to FIBA Americas by taking on considerable investment risks by hosting two Liga das Américas Final Four events (2014 and 2015), with the Maracanãzinho arena always packed. Finally, even if FIBA also disregards the four consecutive NBB (Brazilian Basketball League) championships, Flamengo's CR believes it has full legitimacy to question the decision to strip us, with a single stroke of the pen, of the spot we earned on the court, a feat also achieved by Bauru and Mogi.
No club in Latin America has contributed more to the FIBA Americas in recent years. Let's remember that CR Flamengo hosted the European champion and, in two more fantastic celebrations with a packed Arena da Barra, also won the FIBA Intercontinental Cup. Additionally, we were the first club in Latin America to be invited to an NBA preseason game in North America. Always a pioneer, CR Flamengo was also the first Latin American club to host an NBA team for a game in its city.
So, what support did FIBA Americas give to Flamengo and Brazilian basketball? Fifteen days after the punishment announced by FIBA, in an "unprecedented act of speed," the organization released the tournament schedule, already without the Brazilian teams. FIBA Americas' position in this episode is deeply strange and ungrateful.
Furthermore, CR Flamengo has been undergoing a tough adjustment process since 2013, having paid off more than R$ 350 million in debts and regularized its tax situation. We have returned to being a citizen-club, and the results in basketball also reveal great sporting success. We are also fully in favor of a complete restructuring of the outdated system of federations and confederations in Brazil, which so greatly hinders the development of Brazilian sport. Just recall our confrontation with the Rio de Janeiro Basketball Federation in several episodes during our conquest of the twelve-time Carioca championship title in 2016 against Vasco da Gama. Additionally, CR Flamengo has led projects similar to the National Basketball League in other sports, always fighting for decency and the development of Brazilian sport.
It is completely paradoxical and even cruel, after having trodden the difficult path of financial recovery, with profound sacrifices, that the rights of CR Flamengo should be affected by the irresponsibility and mismanagement of others.
Flamengo's CR (Corinthians' Association) is fully open to dialogue and hopes that FIBA will regain common sense, listening to our arguments and allowing Brazilian clubs to compete in the 2017 Liga de las Américas. It's worth remembering that the Brazilian national teams do not have tournaments on close dates, placing the entire burden of the punishment on Brazilian basketball on the shoulders of three clubs that invest in and treat basketball in the most serious and professional way possible, without having any connection to the administration of the CBB (Brazilian Basketball Confederation), which seems to be FIBA's target.
It should be noted, however, that if the punishment of Brazilian clubs is confirmed, CR Flamengo will spare no effort, through our legal department, to seek ways to sue and obtain due compensation from all those who would participate in this enormous potential damage – both tangible and intangible – to our club.
Flamengo CR Board of Directors