NBB: FLAMENGO FAILS AGAINST SÃO PAULO IN A GAME AND COMPLICATES CLASSIFICATION IN THE FINAL

Last Sunday (17) was marked by red-black victories on and off the field. While Flamengo beat Internacional in the Brasileirão , Brazilian basketball also shone. The U-23 team defeated the United States 77-73 in Toronto, and secured their second Global Jam championship.

Among the highlights of the final was Daniel Onwenu, FlaBasquete's new signing for next season . The 22-year-old shooting guard was a key defensive player, leading Brazil in rebounds with eight. His consistent performance in the paint was crucial in containing the Americans and securing Brazil's advantage.

Onwenu's good performance was added to the great performances of Landeira and Pedro Pastre , a duo that led the team in decisive moments and helped confirm the title against the USA.

BRAZIL CAMPAIGN IN GLOBAL JAM

The Brazilian team's run in the tournament was full of impressive victories. In its debut, it defeated Canada 85-78 . It then beat Japan 78-52. Before the final, it lost to the United States 76-74, but rebounded in the decisive game, winning 77-73.

SECOND BRAZILIAN TITLE

This was Brazil's second victory in the tournament, having previously lifted the trophy in 2022. In that edition, another Flamengo -linked athlete took center stage: Yago "Monstrinho," a point guard discovered by FlaBasquete . He was a key player in winning the first title, just as Daniel Onwenu is now taking center stage in his second title.

FlaBasquete remains active in the market and announced this Tuesday (5) the signing of Argentine Alex Negrete, 24 years old, who arrives with the direct approval of coach Sergio "Oveja" Hernández . The red-black commander praised the new reinforcement and highlighted the reasons that led to the choice.

Oveja on Alex Negrete, FlaBasquete's new signing: "His mentality is extremely competitive"

According to Oveja, Negrete is more than just a talented youngster—he's an athlete with the potential to be an offensive reference and a leader in the locker room: " Negrete is a young player with a lot of energy who has been improving year after year . He has great scoring ability and demonstrates leadership skills that are unusual for his age. His mentality is extremely competitive," said the Argentine coach.

VERSATILITY IS KEY

Besides being a natural scorer, the new signing won't be limited to just one role on the court. According to Oveja, Negrete is versatile and can play in different positions on the perimeter, adapting quickly to the Brazilian basketball style: " He's ready to take a leap in his career , and Flamengo wants to capitalize on this moment. He's a versatile player who will help us a lot," he added.

REVELATION IN ARGENTINA AND MESSAGE TO THE RUBRO-NEGRA FANS

Negrete excelled at Instituto Córdoba, where he was named the Argentine League's Most Improved Player of the Year and Revelation Player of the Year. Standing at 6'4", the forward averaged 13.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 15.5 per game.

Excited about the new challenge, the player sent a message to the Flamengo fans: " Hey, Nation! I'm very happy to say that I'm now part of the Flamengo family . I'm excited to wear the Manto and step onto the court for this basketball giant. See you soon," said the new signing, in a statement on the club's official website.

Flamengo Basketball has officially announced the arrival of another notable name for the 2025/26 season. This is Argentine winger Alex Negrete, 24 years old and 1.92m tall . With a notable stint at Instituto Córdoba in Argentina, the player is considered one of the greatest prospects in South American basketball and completes the group that will compete in major national and international competitions throughout the season.

Negrete was named the Best Young Player and Most Improved Player of the last Argentine championship. During the regular season, he led his team in scoring, averaging 13.66 points per game, along with 4.8 rebounds and a 15.5 efficiency rating.

His performance also stood out in the Basketball Champions League Americas (BCLA), with 10.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game , helping Instituto Córdoba reach the Final Four, played at Maracanãzinho, the stage of the Rubro-Negro's title in the competition.

REVELATION OF SOUTH AMERICAN BASKETBALL

The young winger has already shared his first words as a Mengão athlete: " Hey, Nation! I'm very happy to say that I'm part of the Flamengo family . I'm very excited to wear the Manto and step onto the court for this basketball giant. See you soon!"

FLAMENGO SQUAD FORMED

With Negrete's arrival, Flamengo 's roster for next season is complete. The season premiere will take place in September with the FIBA Intercontinental Championship in Singapore. The team will consist of Alexey Borges, Franco Baralle, Shaq Johnson, Alex Negrete, Daniel Onwenu, Gui Deodato, Jhonatan Luz, Markeith Cummings, Kayo Gonçalves, Ruan Miranda, and Wesley Castro.