In an electrifying classic, Marquinhos decides in the final seconds and Flamengo wins the first of the series
Number 11 was the top scorer alongside Balbi with 18 points each; the teams return to the court on Thursday at Tijuca Tênis Clube
By Isabela Abirached - inFriday night (3) was a Rio de Janeiro classic in the playoffs of the New Basketball Brazil (NBB) at the Oscar Zelaya gymnasium, in General Severiano. And the new Sacred Mantle of FlaBasquete already debuted with victory and plenty of emotion: Mengão won 79 to 77, with Marquinhos deciding the victory in the final seconds.
After this breathtaking game, the teams will face each other again on Thursday (9) and Saturday (11), at Tijuca Tênis Clube, both times with the red-black team in charge. If they win both games, the Pride of the Nation will be qualified for their seventh final in the history of the competition - having lifted the trophy on five occasions.
The game
The classic started off as expected: a highly contested affair. For the Red-Blacks, Marquinhos stood out with six points and two assists. The teams alternated the lead, ending the first quarter tied at 17-17. In the second period, Botafogo took the lead, but Flamengo responded with baskets from Nesbitt and Olivinha and regained the lead after a beautiful Balbi assist to Jhonatan (22-23). The Argentine led the team's rise with baskets and top-notch assists before the clock expired, signaling halftime with the Mais Querido up 37-29.
A stunning three-pointer by Balbi opened the third quarter, which also featured a dunk by Marquinhos and no missed shots from the Argentine, who converted all 11 points he attempted. But Botafogo was the better team in the period (25-23), winning the quarter and closing in on the overall score: 54-60. In the final period, another ten minutes of a tightly contested game. The black-and-white team closed even closer, falling just one point behind. In the final minute, there was back-and-forth and intense pressure from both sides. A three-pointer by Botafogo with just seconds remaining put their opponent ahead and the red-and-black fans on edge. But Marquinhos proved decisive and scored the three points—a two-pointer plus a bonus point for the foul he incurred on the play—that secured the crucial victory in the first game of the best-of-five series.