The Novo Basquete Brasil final will return to Rio de Janeiro next week. On Friday night, Brasília defeated Flamengo at the Nilson Nelson Gymnasium, 93-90, forcing a fourth game in the best-of-five series to decide the 2010 Brazilian basketball champion. Despite Marcelinho's 41 points, the red-and-blacks, who had won the first game, were defeated, and the match is now tied at 1-1. The tiebreaker will take place on Sunday at 11:15 a.m., when the teams meet again in the federal capital.

Flamengo started the match at full steam. And so did Brasília. Playing in their third consecutive Nacional final and familiar with each other, the two teams played a well-balanced game from the start. But the visitors got off to a better start. With power forward Teichmann inspired, scoring 12 points, the Flamengo team took a 27-21 lead in the first quarter. In the second, the Brasilienses leveled the score, but Flamengo remained in the lead and went into the locker room ahead, 45-44, secured on a shot by Dedé on the Flamengo team's final attacking play of the first half.

And in the third quarter, the match continued to resemble a Flamengo versus Brasília match. Complaints about the refereeing, excitement at every basket, and comebacks on the scoreboard. The red-and-blacks started better and even opened up a five-point lead, but after an unsportsmanlike foul by Dedé, the home team closed the gap, closing the gap, and getting back into the game. Coach Paulo Chupeta even called a timeout to let his team's adrenaline subside, but the team failed to rediscover its best form and ended up trailing by eight points (68-61) in the final quarter, Brasília's biggest lead of the match.

The atmosphere remained heated in the final quarter. Brasília's Alex and Marcelinho even argued and shoved each other with seven minutes remaining. The incident seemed to motivate Flamengo's number 4, who immediately converted a three-pointer and cut the lead to four points. The comeback was successful, but even with Marcelinho's 41 points, the Brasilienses remained the better team, and with Paulo Chupeta's team rushing into shots, they simply had to manage the victory. In the final, thrilling finale, Flamengo had possession with five seconds remaining, but Marcelinho didn't convert, and Brasília ended up winning 93-90.

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Brasília: Arthur (6), Estevam (17), Valtinho (15), Alex (17), Guilherme (19), Nezinho (16) and Cipriano (3)
Flamengo: Marcelinho (41), Helio (3), Dedé (4), Wagner (6), Duda (3), Vitor (2), Jefferson (9), Teichmann (20) and Alírio (2)