A tough game and tense atmospheres played out in the first of five matches in the final stage of the South American Basketball League. Flamengo/Petrobras traveled to Corrientes, Argentina, to play the first two games of the final series against Regatas.

With a score of 95 to 72 (54 to 36 in the first half), Regatas/Corrientes opened up a 1 to 0 lead in the best-of-five series.

Playing on the Corrientes court in front of a massive home crowd, the red-and-blacks found themselves crushed. The match started evenly, with Regatas opening a narrow five-point lead. The red-and-blacks managed to tie the score (11-11), but the home team managed to impose their pace and extend the point lead to 13.

Well-prepared, Regatas capitalized on the team's poor run, which lasted until the start of the third quarter. Unlike the first two periods, Flamengo began to dictate the pace of the game after Amiel's introduction, who scored a stunning three-pointer. Flamengo took a 7-0 lead in the third quarter, keeping the game alive. Coloneze, another key player in the game, came on well and helped reduce the Argentines' lead to six points.

Just when everything was going well for Paulo Chupeta's team, a brawl erupted after an object was thrown onto the court, causing a massive uproar and halting the match. Marcelinho was eventually sent off, and a new conflict erupted on the court.

After a 20-minute stoppage, Regatas was rewarded with a series of free throws, giving the Argentines an even greater advantage. Without Marcelinho and fighting valiantly, Flamengo lacked the strength to overcome the home team, who closed the scoring with a 23-point lead.

Periods:\ 1st quarter: 31 to 18\ 2nd quarter: 54 to 36\ 3rd quarter: 73 to 60\

The second game will be held tonight at 21pm, broadcast by ESPN Brasil.

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