Flamengo is gradually managing to maintain the core of its five-time state champion and Brazilian basketball runner-up. After renewing the contracts of coach Paulo Chupeta, point guard Hélio and center Wagner, as well as captain Marcelinho, who has a contract with the club until 2012, director Arnaldo Szpiro announced this Wednesday that Guilherme Teichmann will remain. Signed last season to replace Baby and Fernando Mineiro, the 6'4" power forward has extended his contract with the red-and-black club for two more seasons.

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 "Guilherme really identified with Flamengo and was one of our priorities for next season. Although he had been approached by several clubs, fortunately we reached an agreement and he will wear the red-and-black shirt for another two seasons," said Arnaldo Szpiro.

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Having earned recognition after finishing second in the Brazilian championship, Guilherme attracted the interest of several Brazilian clubs. However, his connection with the red-and-black fans and his desire to win a national championship with the Rio de Janeiro club prevailed and were decisive in his staying at Gávea for another two years.

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"I knew there were clubs interested in signing me, like Limeira and Uberlândia, but I never received any official offers because I always expressed my intention to stay at Flamengo. I had a very good season here, I identified deeply with the club and the city, and the only thing missing was the Brazilian title," explained Guilherme Teichmann, who can't hide his frustration with losing the Novo Basquete Brasil title to Universo/Brasília.

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"I think I felt the loss of the title a little more than the others because I was the last to reach the group and I didn't participate in winning the national championship twice in the previous two years. That's why I chose to stay. I know the club is strengthening itself even more to win all the competitions we'll compete in next season," concluded the player, who received several expressions of affection from Flamengo fans after posting the renewal on Twitter.