Flabasquete: Flamengo announces the team's pre-season in Europe

Flamengo is ready for another global basketball challenge . Representing Brazil, the Rubro-Negro team has met its opponents in the international competition to be held in September in Singapore. The tournament features six teams divided into two groups of three, with FlaBasquete in Group B.

Alongside Flamengo are the Illawarra Hawks from Australia — NBL champions and Oceania representatives — and the NBA G-League United team , a team made up of outstanding athletes from the NBA development league in the United States.

In Group A, the match will be between Al Ahli SC (Libya), Utsunomiya Brex (Japan), and Unicaja (Spain). The Spanish team, champions of the Liga ACB, emerge as the main favorites in the group —and one of the title contenders.

TABLE DEFINED: FLAMENGO DEBUTS AGAINST NORTH AMERICAN TEAM

FIBA has released the group stage schedule, and Flamengo's debut will be on September 18th against NBA G-League United. The following day, they'll face the Illawarra Hawks, concluding their first-round participation. The games will take place at 5:00 PM Singapore time, which means 6:00 AM Brasília time —an extra challenge for Brazilian fans to watch live.

Check out the group stage games:

• NBA G-League United vs Flamengo – September 18th, at 6am (Brasília time)
• Illawarra Hawks vs Flamengo – September 19th, at 6am (Brasília time)

DECISIONS TAKE PLACE ON THE 21ST

FIBA also confirmed the dates for the final matches. On September 21st, the tournament will conclude with three matches: the fifth-place playoff, the third-place playoff, and finally, the grand final. Flamengo is seeking its third world basketball title and, to do so, must advance as one of the group leaders. Fans' expectations are high, and the team led by Sergio 'Oveja' Hernández is already beginning preparations with an eye on international glory.

Franco Balbi, one of the biggest names in the recent history of FlaBasquete , has a new destination set. After his departure from Flamengo was confirmed at the end of last season , the Argentine point guard returns to his home country to play for Unión Básquet, from Santa Fe, in the National Basketball League.

The official announcement was made on Tuesday night (15). In a post on social media , the Argentine club welcomed the player and highlighted his time at Rubro-Negro: “Franco Balbi from Juninense is the new Tatengue player for the next season of the National League. The experienced playmaker arrives after his time at Flamengo , from Brazil. Welcome, Franco.”

In the comments, Mengão idols and fans wished the athlete luck. Olivinha, Balbi's longtime teammate, commented: "Good luck, brother." Fans' messages highlighted their affection for the number 6 : "Mago honored the Sacred Mantle," "I'll always be rooting for you! Thank you so much for everything."

DEPARTURE WITHOUT TRIBUTE GENERATED DISSATISFACTION

Balbi left Flamengo amidst the roster overhaul. His departure was announced alongside those of Luan Rodrigues and Lucas Siewert , sparking criticism from fans. Many expected a more prominent farewell, befitting the playmaker's importance. "Is this all for Balbi?" asked one fan. Another demanded more recognition: "The farewell post for Balbi needs to be separate! The guy is such an idol."

RESERVE IN THE FINAL STRAIGHT

Last season, Balbi lost his place and was a backup to Alexey Borges, who took over as the starting midfielder. Even so, the Argentine maintained his role as a technical leader and key figure within the red-and-black squad , with whom he won national and continental titles. Now, the "Magician," as he is affectionately known by fans, returns to his home country for a new chapter in his career.

The Brazilian Men's Basketball Team has chosen Espírito Santo as its training ground for the 2025 Americup, which will be held from August 22nd to 31st in Managua, Nicaragua . The Brazilian delegation will arrive in Espírito Santo on August 3rd, with the city of Guarapari serving as the official training base.

The announcement was officially made at the Anchieta Palace, in Vitória , with the participation of Governor Renato Casagrande, the president of the Brazilian Basketball Confederation (CBB), Marcelo Sousa, the president of the Capixaba Basketball Federation (Fecaba), Rogério Machado, as well as municipal authorities and representatives of SESC Fecomércio-ES.

REFERENCE FOR NATIONAL SPORTING EVENTS

The city's selection as the host city for the training event represents a significant step forward for the municipality. According to Lennon Monjardim, Guarapari's Secretary of Sports and Recreation, the achievement is the result of a collective effort and ongoing investment in sports.

" Guarapari is ready for great challenges. Hosting the Brazilian National Team is recognition of the serious work we're doing in sports, with structure, organization, and support. This inspires our children, boosts tourism, and puts our city on the national high-performance sports map," said Monjardim.

PLAYERS LINKED TO FLABASQUETE

Before the official preparation for the Americup , the Brazilian Basketball Confederation released this week the list of 12 athletes who will represent Brazil in the Solidarity Cup, a friendly tournament that takes place in China between July 24th and 31st.

Among those called up are two players with ties to Flabasquete : power forward Kayo Gonçalves and newcomer Daniel Onwenu. The five-game tournament, led by Rodrigo Carlos da Silva, is part of the development process for a new generation of Brazilian talent, focusing on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle. Aleksandar Petrovic, the national team's head coach, will not participate in this event.