Author: Monojit Mandal
While Franca and São Paulo are emerging as contenders for the coveted title of champion of the Novo Basquete Brasil (NBB) 2022/23, the stage is set for an explosive final. After their triumphs in the semi-finals, Sesi Franca and São Paulo will face each other in a dramatic best-of-five series to determine the final champion. The long-awaited opening game will take place on Saturday at the Pedrocão Gymnasium in Franca, São Paulo.
Sesi Franca advanced to the Grand Final after beating Minas in a nail-biting Game 5 of the semi-finals. Their opponents, São Paulo, beat Flamengo, opening the door to a dramatic duel between the two powerful teams. The organizers of the tournament have just unveiled the schedule, with the opening match scheduled for 3 p.m. (Brasília time) at the Pedroco gymnasium.
This will be the sixth meeting between Franca and São Paulo, who have consistently produced thrilling performances not only in the Paulista Championship, but also in the NBB playoffs since 2018. The teams have met 12 times in the history of the national competition, with three wins for São Paulo and nine for Franca. The most recent encounter was a dramatic contest on January 7, with Franca securing a hard-fought victory with an incredible 105-101 overtime score.
The rivalry between these two powerhouses has already been the scene of several historic events, including meetings in the 2021 and 2022 Paulista finals, as well as the 2021 and 2022 NBB semi-finals. The fury of the confrontations resulted in several stories and records, turning the conflict into a spectacle for Brazilian basketball fans.
São Paulo advanced to the final after beating Flamengo 3-0 in the quarter-finals. This is their second appearance in the NBB final, demonstrating the expansion and success of São Paulo’s initiative. Franca, on the other hand, had a longer and more difficult road, but ended up coming out on top in a grueling five-game series. The reigning champions from the interior of São Paulo come into the final with an unblemished regular season record, having won all 38 games.