In a very balanced match, FlaBasquete relies on collective play to beat Pato away from home
The red-black team returns to the court for the NBB this Saturday (5), against Mogi, in the last game before the World Cup, in Egypt
By Isabela Abirached - inAnother victory for FlaBasquete in the New Basketball Brazil (NBB)! In a very even match, with several lead changes, the red-and-black team defeated Pato Basquete 93-87 at the Sesi Gymnasium.
Without Franco Balbi, who tested positive for COVID-19, the Pride of the Nation had five players reaching double digits in scoring to win the match: Brandon Robinson (19), Yago (17), Rafael Mineiro (16), Lucas Martinez (11) and Dar Tucker (10). Mineiro and Olivinha stood out in rebounds, with nine each. The red-and-black Monstrinho took the lead in assisting with seven.
The game
The match began with captain Olivinha's excellent aim: with two-pointers, three-pointers, and from the free throw line, the number 16 reached nine points. The Mais Querido (Most Beloved) held the lead until the final minutes of the period, when Pato leveled the score with a long-range shot (19-19). The opponent found openings to shoot from outside the perimeter, and the period ended with the "give and take" that governed the match: 25-27.
It was with two more three-pointers at the start of the second quarter that Pato turned the game around and opened up a six-point lead (38-32) in three minutes. Flamengo managed to close the gap to one point, but their opponent continued to shoot proficiently, reaching a ten-point gap (49-39). With two three-pointers from Yago, Flamengo closed the gap again (49-45) and went into halftime down two points (51-49).
In the opening moments of the third period, Mais Querido regained the lead, curbed Pato's momentum and maintained the lead, closely followed by their opponent, until just over a minute left, when the Paraná team's 17th three-pointer of the game tied the score (87-87). A three-pointer by Luke Martinez, with 39 seconds left on the clock, gave Mengão the lead back and was crucial to the victory, which was sealed at the free throw line, with two shots by Brandon Robinson.
Saturday has more
The Pride of the Nation returns to the court this Saturday (5), for the match against Mogi, at the Professor Hugo Ramos gymnasium, at 16:10 pm. The game, valid for the 15th round of the NBB qualifying phase, will be broadcast on TV Cultura. In the first round match, Mengão won 116 to 73, at Maracanãzinho.
The match against Mogi will be the last before the World Cup in Egypt. Flamengo debuts on February 11th against Lakeland Magic in the semifinals.
The basketball teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo rely on resources from their sponsors – BRB, MOSS, TIM, AmBev, Rede D'or, IRB Brasil RE, CSN, Brasil Plural, EY – via the Federal Incentive Law/Ministry of Sports (IR) and State Incentive Law/State Secretariat of Sports, Leisure and Youth (Seelje) of Rio de Janeiro, in addition to support from the Brazilian Club Committee (CBC).