Flamengo begins its journey in the 2026 NBB Opening Tournament this Tuesday, facing Botafogo at the Dona Salomé Arena in Belo Horizonte, with live broadcast.
The ball is about to tip off for the official Brazilian basketball preseason.
Starting this Tuesday (6), the city of Belo Horizonte will be the epicenter of the sport with the start of the 2026 NBB Opening Tournament.
The tournament brings together eight clubs at the Dona Salomé Arena for a preparatory competition that serves as a showcase for the upcoming regular season.
The tournament was conceived by the National Basketball League to act as a true warm-up for the fans.
Divided into two groups, the competition pits traditional teams against each other in a fast-paced format, featuring three rounds of group stage action before the finals scheduled for next Saturday (10).
Group B and the Rio Derby in the Opener
Group B features high-level matchups, bringing together Botafogo, Flamengo, Grupo BT/Clube de Campo de Tatuí, and hosts Minas.
Meanwhile, Group A consists of Brasília, Caxias do Sul, Fluminense, and Itatiaiuçu Cruzeiro.
All games will be broadcast live on the NBB official YouTube channel.
The first round features a regional derby right away at 11:30 AM (Brasília time).
Flamengo squares off against Botafogo, renewing a rivalry that has recently stirred up the state scene.
Following that, the day’s schedule features Brasília against Fluminense, followed by Minas facing the team from Tatuí, and closing the night with Caxias do Sul against Itatiaiuçu Cruzeiro.
The tournament represents a unique opportunity for us to assess the team’s game rhythm and fine-tune the final details before the major challenges of the official calendar.
Overhaul and Expectations for the Rubro-Negro
As the reigning champions of the preparatory competition, Flamengo arrives at the tournament with a revamped and competitive roster.
Led by head coach Demétrius Ferracciú, the Pride of the Nation has brought back major names such as point guard Yago Mateus and forward Didi Louzada, in addition to adding pieces like Douglas dos Santos (DG), Yan Djalo, and Luis Montero, while maintaining the core of last season with athletes such as Alexey Borges and Ruan Miranda.
After the group stage matches, which run until October 9 with a general break on Thursday (8), Saturday (10) will determine all final standings.
The grand final is scheduled for 7:30 PM, wrapping up the week of tests and laying solid foundations for the main national tournament.
