FlaBasquete fails to take advantage and loses game 2 of the semifinals
Rubro-negro needs to win the third match to stay alive in the NBB
By Lucas Dantas - in
The Arena was packed for the second leg of the NBB semifinal between Flamengo and Mogi. Flamengo had lost the first leg away from home, and Friday's game proved crucial. A victory was crucial to tie the series, but it never came. Once again below their season average, Flamengo's basketball team was defeated and now needs to reverse a 0-2 streak. The 74-88 score for Mogi was a testament to the team's better shooting percentage from the paint—80% to 40%. Flamengo grabbed more rebounds and matched the other stats, but it wasn't enough.
The red-and-blacks' top scorers were Pecos and Ramon, both with 15 points, followed by Olivinha and Varejão, with 12 each. The game's leading scorer was Mogi's Shamell, with 21 points. The third game of the series will be at Arena Carioca, next Monday, at 20 pm. Tickets are on sale on the website. GuicheWeb.
The game
Mogi started the match better, scoring first and opening up a five-point lead. But Flamengo worked steadily to close the gap. The game was very tense, with some defensive lapses on both sides. Anderson Varejão was the main offensive option at the start of the fourth. Olivinha lifted the Nação Arena for the first time with 3:28 remaining, closing the gap to one point (11-12), but two missed attacks in quick succession put Mogi back within five points. Neto brought on Marcelinho and JP Batista in place of Marquinhos and Anderson Varejão. And the Captain, with his first ball, hit a three-pointer, closing the gap with 1:10 remaining (14-19). It wasn't enough, and Flamengo ended the first half trailing, 17-21.
The second quarter started more tensely than the first. Mogi managed to maintain its lead, with good shots from both close range and distance, while Flamengo wasted attacks and wasted time on the ball. With five minutes remaining, the lead reached 15, and the ball stubbornly refused to fall. Neto stopped the game. Upon returning, with Rhett and Pecos on the court, the team clicked into gear and hit more attacks. The lead remained at around 12. With 2:25 remaining, Ramon hit three free throws to cut the deficit to nine. Varejão added two more to drop the deficit to seven. The comeback stalled, and Mogi scored five consecutive points, closing the first half with a 12-point lead (33-45).
Neto returned with the starting five in the third quarter, and Olivinha scored the first two points, narrowing the deficit to ten. However, Mogi scored again on two subsequent attacks, opening up a gap again. The Mais Querido (Most Beloved) put in a lot of spirit and fought hard for the balls, but Mogi was more efficient. The gap remained, and time ticked by, and the red-and-black ball capriciously stayed out of play.
The final quarter was a repeat of the others. Their efficiency didn't improve, the ball continued to elude them, and Mogi continued to hit their attacks. The lead remained at 14 points, which was the difference in the entire game. And the São Paulo team ended up taking the advantage in the end. Now, Flamengo needs to win on Monday, also at the Arena, to stay in the competition.
The basketball teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo receive funding from their sponsors – thinkseg, Estácio, 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 from the Pelé Law. The Anjo da Guarda Rubro-Negro Project, a personal tax transfer, benefits all Olympic sports of the Most Beloved.