Olivinha is synonymous with race, decision and precision. On Monday night (7), the player was a key player in Flamengo's 71-64 victory over Mogi das Cruzes at Arena Carioca 1. With 20 points and 13 rebounds, he was the star of the match that kept Mais Querido alive in the NBB10 semifinal series.

"We knew it was a win-win situation; there was no other option. It was either that or go home crying. Our team came out with a lot of focus, a different attitude than in previous games, and we put in a good performance. The defense was very good, especially considering we only conceded 64 points. That was where we were making the most mistakes, and the Mogi team was incredibly confident. We managed to reduce that, put up a good score, and took home the win. Now we're going to Mogi," Olivinha analyzed.

"Neto gave us a lot of confidence, especially since we're a very experienced team. We're experiencing this situation of losing 2-0 for the first time, but we have great players, Brazilian national team players. We're used to big games. We came with a different mindset, put in a great performance, and also had the support of our fans, which was crucial. Our energy was different, especially since we knew it was all or nothing. If we already played with grit and determination before, then we needed to triple that, and even more so on the court. That's what we did, and everything worked out. The nation showed up, listened to our enthusiasm, and packed the gymnasium," said the number 16.

Game 4 already has a date set. Next Saturday (12), at 14 pm, Mais Querido will go to the Professor Hugo Ramos gymnasium to seek a draw in the semifinal series. "We know that in Mogi it is always very difficult, but we are also aware that our team is very experienced and that this is not the first time we have faced a situation like this. We are prepared for all of this. We will work during the week, ironing out some details to bring this victory", he concluded.