On Marquinhos' night, FlaBasquete runs over Botafogo in the NBB
Winger scores 35 points and leads the red-blacks to their ninth victory in the competition
By Flamengo Communication - in
Did you get the score? Flamengo faced—and crushed—Botafogo on Friday night at Tijuca Tênis Clube, with a score that clearly demonstrated the difference between the teams. Marquinhos scored 35 points and was widely credited with the 102-73 victory that temporarily put the "Mais Querido" in second place in the standings, with nine wins in 12 matches. The team is already guaranteed a spot in the Super 8, but it still depends on the results to determine who they will face in the competition.
Gustavo De Conti fielded a different Flamengo team. Anderson Varejão and João Vitor were rested, but they did not participate in the match. Without their key players in the paint, the team was more focused on shooting from outside the box, resulting in 13 three-pointers and a decisive factor in the resounding result. After the victory, FlaBasquete is preparing to face Minas in Belo Horizonte next Saturday (15), in the final round of the year before the Super 8 break, a tournament that will feature the top eight teams in the NBB and which is worth a spot in the 2019 Liga das Américas.
The first quarter was evenly matched between the teams. With quick plays and well-positioned defenses, both Flamengo and Botafogo took a while to break the 10-point barrier. The one who stood out was Marquinhos. The MVP was on point in the first quarter, scoring 11 points, the only one to surpass double digits. His accuracy was crucial for Flamengo to close out the lead by exactly 11 points, 26-15.
In the second half, Flamengo started differently, struggling to score. It took two minutes for the first ball to fall, with Jhonatan scoring a three-pointer, and another three minutes for Marquinhos to score his second basket of the half, also a three-pointer. From there, they never stopped. The MVP hit every shot he attempted in the half, finishing with nine, reaching 20 by the end. Flamengo found their feet on the court and gave Botafogo no chance, as they stopped scoring. The lead at the end of the 10 minutes was 15 points (47-32), practically deciding the game.
The second half was decisive. Flamengo maintained a rhythm that Botafogo couldn't keep up with. The lead ballooned as the clock ticked down. Marquinhos, once again, set the pace with 12 points in the quarter and a 100% shooting percentage. The opposing team had to watch Flamengo crush the game without much to do. The final margin of 26 points (79 to 53) already indicated that the game was over.
The final 10 minutes were formal. With full control of the match, Gustavo De Conti benched Marquinhos, and the team became more mixed up front. However, with the result largely favorable, it was simply a matter of managing the score until the final whistle. A comfortable victory that brings peace of mind to the team heading into the NBB's resumption.
The basketball teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo receive funding from their sponsors – thinkseg, AmBev, Rede D'or, IRB Brasil RE, CSN, Brasil Plural, and EY – via the Federal Incentive Law/Ministry of Sports (IR) and the State Incentive Law/Rio de Janeiro State Secretariat of Sports, Recreation, and Youth (Seelje), in addition to support from the Brazilian Club Committee (CBC) resulting from the decentralization of resources generated by the Pelé Law. The Anjo da Guarda Rubro-Negro Project, a personal tax transfer, benefits all Olympic sports of the Most Beloved.