Flamengo fought hard, but couldn't avoid another away defeat in the Novo Basquete Brasil tournament. Playing in the so-called Basketball City, Franca, in the interior of São Paulo, coach Paulo Chupeta's team played hard against the home team, second in the competition, but ultimately allowed their opponents to open up a lead in the final period and win the match 72-71. On Sunday, Flamengo returns to the court to face Palmeiras/Araraquara, also on the road.

The private duel between the two point guards, Flamengo's Helio and Franca's Helinho, was the night's highlight. Helio led the red-and-black team, while number 14, who hit every free throw and two-point shot he attempted, led Franca to victory. But they had to work hard to achieve this. The game was fiercely contested from the first minute. Franca started better, Flamengo came back, and the teams alternated the lead until the final quarter. However, a complaint from Helio ended up giving the home team its biggest advantage of the game and a stable lead: five points.

Even so, the match remained exciting, with Flamengo trying to close the gap, and Franca trying to manage it. Helinho, inspired, continued to organize the home team, but also played a key role in the defense, stealing the ball from Marcelinho—who had zero three-pointers—with less than a minute remaining, and a three-pointer from the red-and-blacks would have tied the game.

The Gávea team, a warrior, still had a great chance to win the match, with one possession with five seconds remaining and needing a simple basket. But point guard Fred ended up getting the ball tangled up, time ran out, and Franca was the winner: 72-1. Electrifying until the final minute, the match was one of the best in the NBB so far, and had a finish worthy of the tradition of Franca, the greatest winner in Brazilian basketball history, and the current two-time Brazilian champion, Flamengo. However, it was unfortunate for the red-and-blacks, who lost by just one point.