FlaBasquete loses to Minas away from home in return to the NBB
The red-black team returns to the court on March 2nd, against Cerrado, at Maracanãzinho
By Isabela Abirached - inAfter winning the world championship for the second time, Flamengo returned to the New Basketball Brazil (NBB) competition. In a duel against Minas Tênis Clube, away from home, on the morning of this Sunday (20), the team lost 88 to 79.
Franco Balbi led the team with 17 points. Olivinha led the team in rebounding with six. Yago once again provided the most assists, with seven.
The game
The match started evenly, reflecting the quality of both teams, who competed in the Super 8 semifinals and are neck and neck in the NBB standings—Mengão in second and Minas in third. With just over three minutes remaining in the first quarter, Minas Gerais took a four-point lead, but with two three-pointers, Minas Gerais regained the lead. As the clock expired, another shot from outside the perimeter by Franco Balbi closed the first quarter at 20-15 for Minas Gerais.
The second quarter began with another three-pointer, this time from youngster Rafael Rachel, who had a strong start to the match. Minas Gerais, on the other hand, saw its shooting percentage drop and a barrage of red-and-black baskets. Flamengo took a 14-3 lead in the period, but the Minas Gerais team fought back and closed the gap again. Still, Gustavo De Conti's men went into halftime with a nine-point lead: 48-39.
Minas Gerais rallied in the third quarter, unleashing a series of three-pointers. Tied with Mais Querido and winning the quarter, the team failed to surpass Mengão, who also hit long shots with Yago, Rachel, and Balbi. With four free throws made by Monstrinho and three by Brandon Robinson after fouls were called by both in the final seconds of the period, Flamengo closed the quarter with a 66-61 lead.
The opponent came back in the final period looking for a comeback and surpassed Flamengo on the scoreboard with five minutes remaining with two consecutive three-pointers. Despite the strain of the trip to Egypt, where they competed in—and won—the Intercontinental Cup, and the trip to Belo Horizonte, where the match was held, Mengão didn't give up and fought hard for the win until the final moments, but the game ended 88-79 for the home team.
Next appointment
Flamengo returns to the court on March 2nd at 20 pm for a match against Cerrado at Maracanãzinho. The match will be part of the 17th round of the NBB. The team will then have two away games against Franca and Rio Claro, before two more Champions League matches against UdeC and Boca Juniors on March 11th and 12th.