The city of Blumenau in Santa Catarina is the first in southern Brazil to have a team in the decision of the Women’s Basketball League (LBF). The KTO/Blumenau players won the series against Sampaio Corrêa, from Maranhão and now decide the competition against Ituano on the 15th, 17th and 22nd, in addition to the 24th and 29th of August, if necessary.
“We are very happy to qualify for the finals of the competition. The LBF is difficult, balanced, however, our athletes assimilated what the technical committee went through and the result is there”, stressed the president Allan Matos.
“I have to recognize the work of our board, parents in general and our sponsors, in particular the KTO, which was fundamental for us to build a competitive team and reach the final of LBF 2021”, added Matos, stressing that since March the team is supported by the KTO betting platform.
KTO/Blumenau got the classification by reversing the score in overtime
The basketball team spent 37 days without acting due to the COVID-19 pandemic and registered defeats by W.O. Even with a complicated classification stage, the team gained strength in the playoffs and achieved an unprecedented feat. Even the match that took the team to the final followed this trend.
In the last quarter, Sampaio Corrêa’s team opened a ten-point advantage, however, the team from Santa Catarina made an effort and managed to turn the score around in a minute and a half, already in overtime.
“It took a little while for everything to start bearing fruit, the team swayed a little. Today she is more consistent, has a more solid defense, runs more on the court. The seeds that we put there at the beginning, which they watered, and cared for and treated, are now bearing fruit”, stated coach João Camargo.
Camargo added: “We knew that there were teams with much greater investment than ours, with international athletes, with a Brazilian national team player. However, we had a purpose. So, from the beginning, we made a new part, a different game concept, a particular tactic. We changed a lot of things, implemented new concepts and we told them: believe in the process”.
Cássio Filter, brand manager for the national market, stated that there was a quick identification between the betting company and the basketball team. “KTO stands for know the odds (know the odds) and the saga of the players over these months embodies this concept. The entire team knew what the real chances were and what had to be done to make that dream possible. Now the result speaks for itself”.
Game schedule
The LBF decision between Ituano Basketball and the KTO/Blumenau will take place in the best-of-five game system. Check out the schedule of the final games:
- Match 1 – 8/15, 2 pm
- Ditinho Xavier Gym, Itu-SP
- Match 2 – 8/17, 7:30 pm
- Ditinho Xavier Gym, Itu-SP
- Match 3 – 8/22, 2 pm
- Galegão Gym, Blumenau-SC
- Match 4 – 8/24, 6:30 pm (if necessary)
- Galegão Gym, Blumenau-SC
- Match 5 – 8/29, 2 pm (if necessary)
- Ditinho Xavier Gym, Itu-SP
