2019 Rio de Janeiro Basketball Championship table released
Rubro-Negro will face Botafogo and Niterói in the search for their fourth consecutive state championship
By Rafael Rezende - inLast Tuesday (14), FBERJ released the schedule of games for the Campeonato Carioca, FlaBasquete's first official competition of the season. Current three-time champion, Rubro-Negro will face Botafogo and Niterói in the search for the title. The debut is scheduled for August 31, away from home.
For coach Gustavo de Conti, the championship will help the team prepare for the season's challenges.
"The State Championship will serve as preparation for the NBB and the Champions League this year for Flamengo. We still have the NBA Tournament in Montevideo, completing our preseason with quality. Unfortunately, there will only be three teams, but Flamengo will maintain its tradition in the competition and will attempt its fourteenth consecutive title, which would be a historic achievement. I'd like to praise the participation of Botafogo and Niterói, and hope that next year other clubs will organize themselves to participate as well."
Dispute format
The tournament will be played in a home-and-away format, with teams facing each other at home and away. The top two teams will then advance to the final, which will be played as a best-of-three series. The dates have already been set (September 26th, September 09th, and October 29st).
The latest edition
In 2018, Flamengo won the championship undefeated. After finishing the qualifying round with six wins, Flamengo defeated Niterói 2-0 in the semifinals and Botafogo 2-0 in the final.
In the first match, held at the Tijuca Tennis Club gymnasium, Fla won 88-69. In the second, in a hard-fought duel at General Severiano, the Pride of the Nation won 83-73 and lifted the trophy at their rival's home.
Calendar
31/08, at 18 pm: Niterói x Flamengo, at the ABEL Institute Gymnasium (Niterói)
06/09, at 20am: Botafogo x Flamengo, at the Oscar Zelaya Gymnasium (General Severiano)
11/09, at 20pm: Flamengo x Niterói, at the Helio Maurício Gymnasium (Gávea)
September 13th, at 09pm: Flamengo x Botafogo (To be defined)