On Thursday night (03.04), Flamengo ended the qualifying phase of the New Basketball Brazil (NBB) this season with a flourish. With excellent performances by Marcelinho, top scorer with 20 points, and Gegê, leader in assists with nine, and close to a double-double with 17 points, the team beat Basquete Cearense, away from home, by a score of 88 to 81.

 

Marcelinho started the match with aplomb. In the first quarter, the Flamengo captain hit three three-pointers. Point guard Gegê also stood out in the period, with three assists, along with Meyinsse, who had eight points and four rebounds. For the opposing team, Devon and Nick were the most efficient, helping Basquete Cearense win the first quarter 25-23. In the second quarter, Flamengo turned the score around, with Shilton, Felício, and Chupeta entering the game. Flamengo's three-pointers continued to fall, this time from Gegê and twice from Chupeta, giving them an 11-point lead: 41-30. Before the end of the first half, Marcelinho and Felício hit two more shots from outside the box, and Flamengo went into halftime leading 47-39.

 

In the third quarter, Marquinhos was the most efficient player on the court, tallying eight points, including two three-pointers, one rebound, and one assist. The period was tightly contested, and the score ended 18-17 for Basquete Cearense, but overall, the Rubro-Negro team maintained a 64-57 lead. In the final quarter, Felício and Shilton excelled in rebounding and shooting, and Gegê had one of his best games of the season, with 17 points and nine assists, nearly reaching a double-double. Marcelinho also had an excellent game, with 20 points, three rebounds, and three assists.

 

Rubro-Negro will only return to the court after April 24th, for the quarterfinals of the championship.