The Novo Basquete Brasil 9 playoffs are about to begin, and Flamengo is seeking its sixth title. In the quarterfinals, the Pride of the Nation faces Pinheiros and will face a tough challenge to advance to the semifinals.

This Friday (21), at 21 pm, Mais Querido faces the São Paulo team at the Henrique Villaboim Sports Center, in Pinheiros (SP), in Game 1 of the best-of-five series. Flamengo has home advantage and plays at Tijuca Tênis Clube in games 2 and 3.

 The clashes between Flamengo and Pinheiros in the NBB CAIXA

The teams have faced each other 20 times in the competition's history. The duel is evenly matched, with the red-and-blacks winning 12 and losing eight.

NBB BOX 1: The inaugural edition of the competition also marked the first meeting between the teams. In the 2009 season opener, on January 28th, "Mais Querido" defeated Pinheiros 01-90 away from home. The second round also saw a positive result for Fla, beating the São Paulo team 89-86.

When the teams met in the quarterfinals, the only time this has happened in the playoffs, it was once again Flamengo's victory. In three matches, the Pride of the Nation won them all and eliminated Pinheiros. After beating Joinville in the semifinals, Mengão defeated Brasília in the final and became national champions for the first time.

NBB CASHIER 2: In the 2009/10 season, the teams only faced each other in the qualifying round. Still in the first round, Flamengo won its sixth consecutive match against Pinheiros, defeating them 82-77 at the HSBC Arena. Flamengo also secured a victory at the Henrique Villaboim Sports Center, this time 83-79.

NBB BOX 3: Pinheiros won both matches in the 2010/11 season, the first by 90 to 88 and the second by 90 to 78.

NBB BOX 4: In 2011/12, the São Paulo team again fared better in the competition. In Rio de Janeiro, they won 89-84. In São Paulo, Pinheiros defeated Flamengo 91-88.

NBB BOX 5: Flamengo returned to the championship, beginning a four-game winning streak in 2012/13. During the regular season, each team won a winning match against Pinheiros. The first round saw an easy 102-85 victory; the second round saw a close 93-91 defeat.

NBB BOX 6: In the year in which Flamengo was champion of everything in basketball, Pinheiros won both games again in the 2013/14 season (74 to 62; 80 to 71).

NBB BOX 7: The teams faced each other only once in 2014/15. In São Paulo, Fla ran roughshod and won 89-68.*

NBB BOX 8: In the season in which Flamengo won the Novo Basquete Brasil championship for the fifth time, each team won one game. The first match, in Tijuca, ended in a São Paulo victory, 83-79. In the second match, in Pinheiros, Flamengo won 81-75.

NBB BOX 9: They've had two wins this season. In the first home game, Flamengo won 96-88 in front of their home fans. In the return match, at the Henrique Villaboim Multi-Sports Gymnasium, they posted another positive result: 84-77.

Flamengo has played 78 playoff games in the eight editions of the NBB CAIXA, reaching the knockout stage every year. They have won 53 and lost 25.

Flamengo has never missed the semifinals of the New Basketball Brazil competition and is the only team to achieve this feat. In eight editions, the Mais Querido has reached six finals, winning five, and finishing fourth twice.

Furthermore, Flamengo has always been among the top four teams in the competition in the qualifying phase, progressing directly to the quarterfinals in all nine editions of the NBB.

There are 24 wins in 30 quarter-final matches, which represents an 80% success rate.

Of the 12 "sweeps" in the history of the NBB quarterfinals, Flamengo suffered four. The Pride of the Nation won the best-of-five series in just three matches: 2009, 2009/10, 2012/13, and 2015/16.

However, Mais Querido took five games to advance to the semifinals in two seasons, 2011/12 and 2014/15.

Marquinhos holds the second-highest points record in a NBB quarterfinal game. While still playing for Pinheiros, in the 2010/11 season, he scored 43 points.

Reunions

 In addition to the teams' quarterfinal reunion, the series will also feature matches between players from Mais Querido and their former club. Flamengo currently has six players who have previously worn the blue and white jerseys.

Humberto was injured and missed both matches against Pinheiros in the qualifying round. Therefore, the player, who is confirmed to return for the playoffs, will face his former club for the first time, where he spent three seasons.

FlaBasquete prospects Léo Bispo and Pedrinho Rava were also on the other side of the court. A product of Pinheiros' development, Bispo only played in the last NBB season before being transferred to the Mais Querido. Pedrinho, on the other hand, remained in São Paulo from 2012 to 2014.

Rafael Mineiro is another to join this list. He joined Pinheiros in 2011 and remained until 2014. He also won the 2013 Liga das Américas championship with the team.

The stories of Marquinhos and Olivinha intersect with the clash between Flamengo and Pinheiros since NBB 1. In 2009, both were on the court in the quarterfinals wearing the blue and white shirt, when Rubro-Negro eliminated Pinheiros in three games.

Olivinha played for only two teams in the Novo Basquete Brasil series in his career, precisely the teams that face each other in this series. The center arrived at Pinheiros in 2009 and stayed until 2012, when he transferred to Flamengo and won the competition.

Marquinhos also only played for two teams in the NBB, arriving in São Paulo after leaving the NBA. The forward joined Pinheiros in 2009 and played in the first edition of the national championship. Marquinhos then went to Italy, returning in 2010. He transferred to Flamengo in 2012.

 Game 1: Pinheiros vs Flamengo, 21/04, at 21 pm, at the Henrique Villaboim Multi-Sports Gymnasium - SporTV
*In NBB 7, the second-round match between Flamengo and Pinheiros, scheduled for Tijuca Tênis Clube, was canceled by order of the Superior Court of Justice (STJD). The result of the ruling gave the points to the São Paulo team by WO

The Clube de Regatas do Flamengo adult basketball team relies on direct funding from its sponsor Estácio, in addition to investments from Tim via the State Sports Incentive Law/State Secretariat for Sports, Leisure and Youth (ICMS).

*Under supervision of Isabela Abirached