Flamengo defeats Fuerza Regia and takes advantage of Game 2 in the Champions League
Rubro-Negro beat their Mexican opponents 90-67 and return to Brazil to try to qualify for the BCLA semifinals
By Flamengo Communication - inOn Thursday night (16), Flamengo opened the quarterfinals of the Basketball Champions League Americas with a victory. In a match dominated by Flamengo from start to finish, Mais Querido beat Fuerza Regia (MEX) 90x67 and now returns to Brazil for Game 2 of the series next Sunday (19), in Rio de Janeiro.
The game
FlaBasquete entered the court with Franco Balbi, Jhonatan Luz, Marquinhos, Olivinha, and Eloy Vargas. The first quarter was marked by Flamengo's superiority over Fuerza Regia. Just under two minutes into the game, Flamengo already had a 2-point lead. With two accurate three-pointers early in the match, shooting guard Jhonatan Luz went from being a key asset in coach Gustavo De Conti's defense to one of the period's top scorers. Also noteworthy was Uruguayan Gustavo "Panchi" Barrera's debut for Mengão. Flamengo opened up a 10-point lead and ended the quarter 16-28.
After the restart, Flamengo's traditional intensity, as demanded by coach Gustavinho, continued, and despite their attacks, Fuerza Régia, which prioritized its first team for the Mexican national competition, was unable to penetrate the red-and-blacks' defense. Eloy Vargas, playing well in the paint, showed that he is increasingly adapting to the Brazilian style of play, and the Mais Querido then opened up a 17-point lead, closing the first period at 48-31 (20-16).
Flamengo returned from the break with a man-to-man defense, the opposite of what they saw in the first half. Despite remaining in the lead, the Mexicans managed to take advantage of the rebounds and the team's lack of consistency to close the gap in scoring. Final quarter: 67-53 (19-22).
We've reached the decisive period of the game. Flamengo confirmed its superiority by regaining control of the match, with "Panchi" Barrera already showing considerable speed and setting a strong pace, despite not yet fully acclimated to the squad due to his limited training. Zach Graham, with a high volume of play, also converted important points for the Pride of the Nation, as did Balbi's strategic and accurate composure. At the end of the game, Flamengo won 90-67 (23-14).
The next match between Flamengo x Fuerza Régia takes place this Sunday (19), at 19:30 pm, in Rio de Janeiro. If Rubro-Negro wins the second match, they will automatically be guaranteed a place in the semifinals of the competition.