Consistency, decision-making power and defensive solidity: why FlaBasquete is the greatest national champion
Coach José Neto, four-time NBB CAIXA champion in a row, takes a look at the five-time champion team on Saturday and selects its most notable achievement.
By Isabela Abirached and Raiana Monteiro - in
Flamengo is traditionally recognized by the press and fans as a club that "lets itself get to you..." Basketball is no different. At the end of another season, Flamengo has already won five titles in six finals in the NBB CAIXA. José Neto, the team's manager in four of the five victories, spoke to the Official Website about Flamengo's balance between consistency and decisiveness—the Orgulho da Nação has never finished outside the top four in the qualifying round. See the statistics from the seasons in which Flamengo won the championship:
NBB8 - 2015/2016 - 1st place in the standings with 82.1% success rate (23 wins in 28 games) - final: Flamengo x Bauru in a best-of-five series
NBB7 - 2014/2015 - 3rd place in the standings with 76.7% success rate (23 wins in 30 games) - final: Flamengo x Bauru, in a best-of-three series 2-0 (91x69 C; 77x67 F)
NBB6 - 2013/2014 - 1st place in the standings with 81.3% success rate (26 wins in 32 games) - final: Flamengo x Paulistano, in a single game (78x73 C)
NBB5 - 2012/2013 - 1st place in the standings with 88.2% success rate (30 wins in 34 games) - final: Flamengo x Uberlândia, in a single game (77x70 C)
NBB1* - 2008/2009 - 1st place in the standings with 92.9% success rate (26 wins in 28 games) - final: Flamengo x Brasília, in a best-of-five series 3-2 (81x74 F; 71x81 C; 99x78 C; 78x82 F; 76x68 C)
*the coach was Paulo Chupeta
"This work involves planning, first as a group, and then integrating with the coaching staff. The physical, technical, and medical aspects ensure the player is in the best possible condition. And in this planning, we outline the season's objectives. As we execute, we assess the reality of the games and adapt daily to the important moments of the championship," stated José Neto.
Basketball fans know that, beyond scoring goals, a strong defense is immensely important: it fosters counterattacks, undermines opponents' confidence, and ignites the fans—who, in Flamengo's case, needless to say, have a good rapport with the players. After boasting the best defense in the NBB7, this season the Rubro-Negro finished the qualifying round for the eighth edition as the team that conceded the fewest points in this stage of the tournament in the competition's history. Neto explained what he considers essential to a team's defensive strength.
"There are a few factors. First, physical ability, being able to play with a lot of intensity, then tactically, where we teach the player what the team can do collectively to make the opponent's attacking moves more difficult, and then a lot of determination. The player has to believe that being a strong defensive team is crucial to achieving our goals," he analyzed.
As Flamengo coach, José Neto has already defeated Uberlândia, Paulistano, and Bauru, the latter twice, in the NBB final. According to the coach, every victory is special, but the legacy he left at the club was his greatest trophy.
"I think each title had its own special meaning. The first one, precisely because it was the first, after Flamengo had gone years without winning a national title. It was important to restore confidence in our work. The second one confirmed that we had the ability to sustain the favoritism we gained thanks to the previous title. The third one, because we changed the team with new players, allowed us to give more strength to our work. And the fourth one confirmed that we are working with excellence. More than winning titles, I wanted Flamengo to be a reference in basketball in the country. And today we can say that."
The Clube de Regatas do Flamengo adult basketball team relies on direct funding from its sponsors – SKY and Estácio – in addition to investments from Tim via the State Sports Incentive Law/State Secretariat for Sports, Leisure and Youth (ICMS).
NBB8 - 2015/2016 - 1st place in the standings with 82.1% success rate (23 wins in 28 games) - final: Flamengo x Bauru in a best-of-five series
NBB7 - 2014/2015 - 3rd place in the standings with 76.7% success rate (23 wins in 30 games) - final: Flamengo x Bauru, in a best-of-three series 2-0 (91x69 C; 77x67 F)
NBB6 - 2013/2014 - 1st place in the standings with 81.3% success rate (26 wins in 32 games) - final: Flamengo x Paulistano, in a single game (78x73 C)
NBB5 - 2012/2013 - 1st place in the standings with 88.2% success rate (30 wins in 34 games) - final: Flamengo x Uberlândia, in a single game (77x70 C)
NBB1* - 2008/2009 - 1st place in the standings with 92.9% success rate (26 wins in 28 games) - final: Flamengo x Brasília, in a best-of-five series 3-2 (81x74 F; 71x81 C; 99x78 C; 78x82 F; 76x68 C)
*the coach was Paulo Chupeta
"This work involves planning, first as a group, and then integrating with the coaching staff. The physical, technical, and medical aspects ensure the player is in the best possible condition. And in this planning, we outline the season's objectives. As we execute, we assess the reality of the games and adapt daily to the important moments of the championship," stated José Neto.
Basketball fans know that, beyond scoring goals, a strong defense is immensely important: it fosters counterattacks, undermines opponents' confidence, and ignites the fans—who, in Flamengo's case, needless to say, have a good rapport with the players. After boasting the best defense in the NBB7, this season the Rubro-Negro finished the qualifying round for the eighth edition as the team that conceded the fewest points in this stage of the tournament in the competition's history. Neto explained what he considers essential to a team's defensive strength.
"There are a few factors. First, physical ability, being able to play with a lot of intensity, then tactically, where we teach the player what the team can do collectively to make the opponent's attacking moves more difficult, and then a lot of determination. The player has to believe that being a strong defensive team is crucial to achieving our goals," he analyzed.
As Flamengo coach, José Neto has already defeated Uberlândia, Paulistano, and Bauru, the latter twice, in the NBB final. According to the coach, every victory is special, but the legacy he left at the club was his greatest trophy.
"I think each title had its own special meaning. The first one, precisely because it was the first, after Flamengo had gone years without winning a national title. It was important to restore confidence in our work. The second one confirmed that we had the ability to sustain the favoritism we gained thanks to the previous title. The third one, because we changed the team with new players, allowed us to give more strength to our work. And the fourth one confirmed that we are working with excellence. More than winning titles, I wanted Flamengo to be a reference in basketball in the country. And today we can say that."
The Clube de Regatas do Flamengo adult basketball team relies on direct funding from its sponsors – SKY and Estácio – in addition to investments from Tim via the State Sports Incentive Law/State Secretariat for Sports, Leisure and Youth (ICMS).