FlaBasquete opens the semifinal stage of the South American League with a defeat
The team loses to Instituto Córdoba and depends on the other results in the competition.
By Flamengo Communication - in
A poor debut. Flamengo started the semifinal stage of the South American League by losing this Tuesday. With a score of 91 to 84, Instituto de Córdoba secured the victory and came out on top in the group that also includes Bauru and Minas. With 23 points, Marquinhos was Flamengo's top scorer and the game's top scorer. On the Argentine side, the difference-maker was Facundo Piñero, with 21 points and a 54% three-point shooting percentage. Córdoba's number 10 ensured the visitors' advantage throughout the match, easing the pressure on the team when Flamengo was closing in on the scoreboard.
The two teams play again on Wednesday. Flamengo takes on Minas at 19:15 PM, while Instituto faces Bauru next at 21:30 PM.
The game
As expected, the game started hotly. Marquinhos opened the scoring, and with two baskets from Varejão, Flamengo took the lead. But the Argentines had Piñero in good form from the baseline to get back into the game. Flamengo's lead, which had reached six points with two minutes remaining in the quarter (16-20), was reduced to three points by the end of the first 10 minutes, at 19-22.
With a great individual play, Marquinhos opened the scoring in the second quarter. Flamengo, however, couldn't close the gap, which varied between four and six points, reaching nine with 5:50 remaining. That's when Gustavo stopped the game. The team changed. Marquinhos changed. The number 11 hit two in a row and ignited the game. Then it was Argentine coach Facundo Muller who stopped it. The lead was four, and the Argentines held on for the last possession. But they missed. Davi grabbed the rebound and, as the clock ran out, fired a three-pointer, bringing Jeunesse down to one.
Flamengo's locker room cooled down. Marquinhos opened the half, but the Argentines were better and soon pulled away again. The lead was back to around seven points, largely due to three-pointers falling here and there. Marquinhos reached a double-double, but wasn't as effective as in the previous half. It was also the period in which the team conceded the most points (26), ending 60-67 to the Argentines.
All or nothing in the final stage. The game, which started with a seven-point lead, increased to 14 with seven minutes remaining. Deryk, with a three-pointer, reduced the deficit. Mineiro, with an assist from Olivinha, cut the deficit to seven. Davi added three more – eight points separated the teams, and the Arena was up. In the fight, Flamengo kept coming and managed to reduce the deficit to four. However, a missed free throw by Jhonatan and two consecutive fouls sealed the victory for Instituto de Córdoba in the final.
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.