Flamengo v Botafogo: time and where to watch, state championship | OneFootball

Flamengo takes the court in General Severiano this Wednesday (23), for the second round of the Rio de Janeiro State Basketball Championship

There’s a derby on the court this Wednesday (23)! At the Oscar Zelaya Gymnasium, in General Severiano, Flamengo faces Botafogo at 7 p.m. (Brasília time). The game counts for the Men’s Adult Rio de Janeiro State Basketball Championship.

WHERE TO WATCH THE GAME?

The BasqueteTV channel will broadcast the matchup live on YouTube. So, for those who can’t watch it live, there’s also another option: Coluna do Fla will publish the result and the main highlights of the game on its website and social media.

HOW DOES THE RIO DE JANEIRO STATE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP WORK?

The 2026 edition marks the return of the competition after a three-year break. The tournament brings together Flamengo, Botafogo, and Fluminense in a single round-robin triangular format.

That means each team faces the other two only once in the first stage. It is worth noting that this Wednesday’s clash (23) is already Flamengo’s second commitment in the opening stage, since the red-and-black team debuted with a 97-74 win over Fluminense.

At the end of the three rounds, the two teams with the best records advance to the final. Thus, the grand final is scheduled for October 14, in a single game, with the team that finished higher in the qualifying stage as the home side.

HOW DOES FLAMENGO COME INTO THE MATCH?

Flamengo is chasing another title after winning the last 18 editions of the tournament, between 2005 and 2023. However, under Demétrius Ferracciú, the team is also using the State Championship as part of its preparation for the season, building on the work started in preseason.

Gegê Chaia, FlaBasquete’s coordinator, highlighted the combination of the state tournament’s tradition and its role in Flamengo’s preparation. See what the official said:

“It is a tournament that will prepare us for a season that will be very challenging. We know the importance and the responsibility we have to win again and claim titles. I believe the State Championship will prepare us very well for the rest of the season and also gives us the opportunity to keep making history in the state of Rio de Janeiro.”

AND WHAT ABOUT BOTAFOGO?

Botafogo enters the competition while still building its roster, once again under Jorge Balbis. In this scenario, the Rio de Janeiro State Championship works as a chance for the coaching staff to observe the team in a real-game situation before its NBB debut.

DIFFERENT MOMENTS

Besides the historical weight of the competition, the tournament plays an important role in the preparation of all three participants. However, each club is in a different situation: Flamengo has a season ahead with commitments in the NBB and the South American League. Botafogo will play only in the NBB, while Fluminense is preparing for Liga Ouro, the promotion division to the top tier of national basketball.

MATCH DETAILS: BOTAFOGO vs FLAMENGO

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.