A unique chance to make history
Flamengo faces Brasília in the final of the South American League, seeking to win the competition for the second time.
By From the official website team - in
If you had the choice between a historic victory in front of your home crowd, a rematch, or equaling a rival's feat, what would you choose? And if, by chance, you had the chance to kill not just two but three birds with one stone, how motivated would you be? Well, that's how Flamengo takes the court at 20:30 p.m. this Sunday (November 28.11), to face Brasília in the final of the 2010 South American Basketball League.
The most traditional clash in Brazilian basketball, which has decided the last three National Championships—with two wins for Flamengo and one, the last one, for Brasília—will now also determine the continent's best team in the sport. After beating rival Franca and "settling the score" with Quimsa, the time has come to face the team from the federal capital again. The fans have already warned the people of Brasília: their time will come.
"It's a credit to a job well done. They're two well-assembled teams, strong squads, teams with investment in the country, and it's a consequence of a job well done. We're going for it, it's the final, and we're going to try to win once again," said number 10 Duda.
It's a chance to avenge the setback in the 2009-2010 NBB final, but also much more than that. The opportunity is to win a major title against the Red-Black Nation, which has embraced this team since its inception in 2007. On the historic stage of the title of the first edition of the New Basketball Brazil, against the same team from that final, Flamengo wants to prove that lightning does, indeed, strike twice.
"I think our advantage now is playing at home. But it will be a tough match, like every game against Brasília. It's a decisive one, and everyone has to rest well, be calm, and go out on the court completely focused on winning. We really want this title, and we're going to fight for it," said center Bábby.
Two-time championship would be historic - And if they do indeed fall, it will be to further enhance the difficult feat of winning the South American League twice, a title they've won since 1996. After all, the only Brazilian team to win the competition twice is Vasco, a club Brasília even represented in the 2007 Campeonato Carioca. Flamengo and Uberlândia are the only other teams in the country to have won the League.
"Our biggest motivation is to win another title, at home, in front of our fans. It's a great opportunity to achieve such an important result here in Rio and we know it's a historic achievement. It won't be easy, but we'll do our best to leave with the victory and the trophy here at the Arena tomorrow (Sunday)," Marcelinho added.
Flamengo and Brasília will decide the South American League title this Sunday (November 28.11th) at 20:30 pm at the HSBC Arena. Flamengo, seeking their second title, eliminated Quimsa, while the capital team, which has never won the League, beat Boca Juniors in the semifinals. At 18:30 pm, the Argentines will face off in the third- and fourth-place playoff.
Flamengo: Fred, Duda, Marcelinho, Teichmann and Bábby.
Brasília: Nezinho, Alex, Arthur, Guilherme and Tischer.
The most traditional clash in Brazilian basketball, which has decided the last three National Championships—with two wins for Flamengo and one, the last one, for Brasília—will now also determine the continent's best team in the sport. After beating rival Franca and "settling the score" with Quimsa, the time has come to face the team from the federal capital again. The fans have already warned the people of Brasília: their time will come.
"It's a credit to a job well done. They're two well-assembled teams, strong squads, teams with investment in the country, and it's a consequence of a job well done. We're going for it, it's the final, and we're going to try to win once again," said number 10 Duda.
It's a chance to avenge the setback in the 2009-2010 NBB final, but also much more than that. The opportunity is to win a major title against the Red-Black Nation, which has embraced this team since its inception in 2007. On the historic stage of the title of the first edition of the New Basketball Brazil, against the same team from that final, Flamengo wants to prove that lightning does, indeed, strike twice.
"I think our advantage now is playing at home. But it will be a tough match, like every game against Brasília. It's a decisive one, and everyone has to rest well, be calm, and go out on the court completely focused on winning. We really want this title, and we're going to fight for it," said center Bábby.
Two-time championship would be historic - And if they do indeed fall, it will be to further enhance the difficult feat of winning the South American League twice, a title they've won since 1996. After all, the only Brazilian team to win the competition twice is Vasco, a club Brasília even represented in the 2007 Campeonato Carioca. Flamengo and Uberlândia are the only other teams in the country to have won the League.
"Our biggest motivation is to win another title, at home, in front of our fans. It's a great opportunity to achieve such an important result here in Rio and we know it's a historic achievement. It won't be easy, but we'll do our best to leave with the victory and the trophy here at the Arena tomorrow (Sunday)," Marcelinho added.
Flamengo and Brasília will decide the South American League title this Sunday (November 28.11th) at 20:30 pm at the HSBC Arena. Flamengo, seeking their second title, eliminated Quimsa, while the capital team, which has never won the League, beat Boca Juniors in the semifinals. At 18:30 pm, the Argentines will face off in the third- and fourth-place playoff.
Flamengo: Fred, Duda, Marcelinho, Teichmann and Bábby.
Brasília: Nezinho, Alex, Arthur, Guilherme and Tischer.