QUALIFIED! Olivinha shines, Flamengo defeats Corinthians and advances to the semifinals
Birthday boy of the week was responsible for 17 points; collective made the difference again
By Mariana Sa - inTo close the quarterfinal series with a flourish, Flamengo crushed Corinthians on Saturday afternoon (20), at Tijuca Tênis Clube. With a devastating performance from the start, the Mais Querido gave their opponents no chance, winning 91 to 65 in a completely packed gymnasium. Birthday boy of the week, star player Olivinha was responsible for 17 points, being cheered by the Nação Rubro-Negra.
With this result, Mengo defeated the São Paulo team from Novo Basquete Brasil, advancing to the semifinals with a 3-0 series lead. Now Flamengo awaits the winner of the duel between Botafogo and Pinheiros.
The game
The opening minutes were uneventful. Knowing they needed a win, Corinthians made every effort to make things difficult for Flamengo, who steadfastly refused to give up. Converting some good plays, the home team relied on the strength of their fans and emerged victorious in the first quarter: 19-17. During the second quarter, the intense pace slowed, and Olivinha began to shine. Along with Jhonatan and Balbi, the number 16 began to hit everything, making Tijuca tremble with every basket. Davi Rossetto's support also paid off, leading to a 48-28 victory.
Nothing changed in the final stretch of the match. Strong on defense and consistent on offense, everything went perfectly for the Red-Blacks. Setting up their plays and dictating the pace throughout, it didn't take long for the positive scenario to be confirmed. Maintaining a 20-point lead at the end of the third quarter, the final quarter only reaffirmed what everyone already knew: if there's a favorite on the court, it's Flamengo. Celebrations were held in the stands and on the court, 91-65 on the scoreboard, and a spot in the semifinals secured.