RIO DE JANEIRO (2015 FIBA Americas Championship) - Nicolas Laprovittola has provided plenty of indications the past couple of years that he is ready to be a pivotal player for Argentina's national team as it transitions into a new era.

The 25-year-old, a guard who is so fierce and willing to do whatever it takes to win that Argentina coach Sergio Hernandez recently called him "bold" and a "kamakaze", Laprovittola added another achievement to his curriculum vitae over the weekend when he led Flamengo to the club's third straight Brazilian NBB crown with a 2-0 sweep of Bauru.

I am thrilled by the title. - Laprovittola

"We fought hard during the season, many people did not have good things to say about our team, that we did not play in the best way," Laprovittola said.

"But always together, we believed in our potential and grew over time.

"We played very well and deserved the title in the playoffs."

Not long after the final buzzer of Game 2, Laprovittola was named MVP of the Finals.

He was earlier this season named MVP of the Intercontinental Cup following Flamengo's triumph over Maccabi Tel Aviv.

When considering that Laprovittola helped fire Flamengo to the 2014 FIBA Americas League crown, too, and into the Final Four of that event this year, the daring playmaker is on quite a roll.

Among those to sit up and take notice of Laprovittola's latest effort was Manu Ginobili, one of Argentina's greatest ever players.

Laprovittola figures to have a crucial role this summer when Argentina play at the FIBA Americas Championship (31 August-12 September) in Mexico City and attempt to reach the Final to qualify for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

A third-, fourth- or fifth-place finish would put the national team in the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

He's made important contributions to the Argentina cause already.

Laprovittola played at the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship and at last year's FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

Before turning his gaze to this summer with the national team, though, Laprovittola is going to take several days to savor another terrific campaign with Flamengo.

He was excellent in Flamengo's title-clinching 77-67 Game 2 triumph over Bauru, a win that sealed a 2-0 sweep of the NBB Finals.

The team has now not only captured three NBB titles on the bounce.

It now has a record four championships in the competition.

Flamengo captured the first NBB title seven years ago before Brasilia (Uniceub) reeled off three in a row.

"Our team is a family," Laprovittola said.

"We are very close.

"We are very happy to make Flamengo the greatest champion in the history of NBB and we have to take our time to enjoy this."

FIBA