The body of former Flamengo and Brazilian National Team basketball coach Ary Vidal was buried on Tuesday morning (29.01) at the Caju cemetery, in the North Zone of RJ. He passed away on Monday (28.01), at the age of 77, at his home in Rio de Janeiro, due to several kidney complications and chronic heart problems.

Around 50 people, including friends, family, and athletes, attended the wake for the man who, after decades dedicated to the sport, made his mark on the history of Brazilian basketball. Miguel Ângelo da Luz, the 1994 World Champion coach and silver medalist at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics with the Brazilian women's national team, came to bid his friend a final farewell.

"Ary was my technical director when I was coach at Uberlândia. He got the best out of an athlete on the court. He made a mediocre player good, a good player great, and a great player exceptional. He was a guy who liked to highlight the positive aspects and always boosted his players' self-esteem. These are lessons I still carry with me today: valuing successes more than mistakes," said Miguel, giving his master a prominent place in the history of Brazilian basketball. 

"Basketball has the European school and the American school, and Ary created the Brazilian school. A more open game, a counter-attack game. The Brazilian style of playing, a more joyful basketball is due to Ary," he added. 

Paulo Chupeta, Flamengo's coach during the 2008 National Championship, the first NBB Championship in 2009, and the unprecedented South American title that year, also paid tribute. He and Ary Vidal worked together at different times.

 "Brazilian sports are in mourning, not just basketball. Ary made history in Brazilian basketball and around the world with his achievements. It's a time for reflection and great sadness. We've lost an idol. When I played for the Brazilian Youth National Team, he was my coach. And I learned a lot about coaching from him. In 2009, he was technical director at Flamengo. That year, when I accepted the trophy, I said to Ary, 'This title is ours.' And he broke into a big smile, a little tired, but very happy to be there. That final at the Arena, that was fantastic! All of Brazil saw Flamengo win the championship and Ary there, by my side. I'm privileged," he says emotionally.

The greatest player in Brazilian basketball history, Oscar Schmidt, was unable to attend the funeral, but he made sure to send a huge wreath with the words: "Respect and longing from the Schmidt family." The Brazilian Basketball Confederation, the National Basketball League, and Tijuca Tennis Club (Vidal's first club) also sent wreaths.

In honor of the former coach, the National Basketball League (LNB) observed a minute of silence at all NBB matches played this Monday. One of the teams paying tribute to the former coach was Flamengo itself, which defeated Uberlândia this Monday at the Homero Santos gymnasium in Minas Gerais. Flamengo players wore a black stripe on their shirts in respect for their former manager.

In addition to being Flamengo's coach, Vidal also served as the basketball director for Mais Querido, winning the national championship twice in 2009.