About to start another season, Gustavo De Conti talks about the Resumption of the Americas
FlaBasquete coach details the formation of the squad, reinforcements and expectations for the third year leading the team
By Victor Cachoeira - inFlaBasquete is about to begin another season. With its focus on the Resumption of the Americas, the "Mais Querido" (Most Beloved) has strengthened its squad and assembled a strong roster, featuring some new faces and names familiar to the Red-Black Nation, and will once again go after every title. After the announcements of the players who will wear the Sacred Mantle, the Official Mengão Website had an exclusive chat with coach Gustavo De Conti about his expectations for a year that promises intense emotions, great duels, and one of the strongest teams in history.
Casting
"It's a very complete team. A good mix of experienced, established players, and younger, physically fit, versatile players. We may have a defined style, but these are athletes capable of adapting and adjusting to various types of play. It's a group of international players accustomed to major tournaments, matches, and achievements. For Flamengo, who will be fighting for many titles this season, this helps a lot."
Preparation for the Champions League final
"This post-pandemic period is unique. No one has ever experienced this before, but we're trying to plan and prepare as best we can, both with each athlete and collectively. As for the new signings, I don't think they'll have any problems, as they're great athletes and have already worked with me and other players in the group. They already know each other, which makes the process easier."
Point guards with great talent
"It's great to be able to count on players like Balbi and Yago to play point guard, and I'm very grateful to the board for providing this. The season is very long, with lots of competitions, travel, and games. We'll need everyone to play a lot of minutes, and the more quality, the better. Plus, I really enjoy playing with two point guards at the same time, and I think it could be a great option this season."
Strength of the red-black bottle
"We're very well-served in the paint. Olivinha and Mineiro are already a reality. They're players who are used to Flamengo and always deliver incredibly well. Leo Demetrio grew a lot during the season, quickly adapting to the club and its style of play, and contributing significantly to the team. I believe he'll grow even more this year. Hettsheimeir is an international pivot, very versatile, and will fit well into our style as well. He's experienced and very intelligent. We're doing very well in that position, and we also have the U-20 players to complement him with plenty of energy and quality."
Arrival of Chuzito González
"I've been following him for years in Argentine basketball, but signing him never worked out for various reasons. Chuzito is a player who can produce a lot, even in a short playing time, and for me, that's crucial for a great team. He's a player who can produce points, assists, and defends well. Ultimately, he fits in very well with our existing player base at Flamengo, and I believe he'll complement the team well with the players we already have."
The basketball teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo rely on resources from their sponsors – BRB, TIM, AmBev, Rede D'or, IRB Brasil RE, CSN, Brasil Plural, EY – via the Federal Incentive Law/Ministry of Sports (IR) and State Incentive Law/State Secretariat of Sports, Leisure and Youth (Seelje) of Rio de Janeiro, in addition to support from the Brazilian Club Committee (CBC).
The basketball teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo rely on resources from their sponsors – BRB, TIM, AmBev, Rede D'or, IRB Brasil RE, CSN, Brasil Plural, EY – via the Federal Incentive Law/Ministry of Sports (IR) and State Incentive Law/State Secretariat of Sports, Leisure and Youth (Seelje) of Rio de Janeiro, in addition to support from the Brazilian Club Committee (CBC).