FlaBasquete beats Brasília 113-83 and finishes the NBB qualifying phase in second place
With 22 points, Vitor Faverani was the red-black's top scorer in the match; Yago achieved a double-double, with 10 points and 12 assists.
By Paulo Neto* - inOn Monday night (18), Flamengo beat Brasília 113 to 83, at Maracanãzinho, in the last match of the regular season of the New Basketball Brazil (NBB). With the triumph, Mais Querido finished the campaign with 26 wins and six losses, enough to reach second place overall. Having finished among the top four, Orgulho da Nação advances directly to the quarterfinals of the competition.
Vitor Faverani led the way with 22 points, while Yago achieved a double-double with 10 points and 12 assists.
The game
The match began with a sharp start for Flamengo, and Dar Tucker opened the proceedings with a three-pointer. Yago then took advantage of a quick transition to score his first two points of the game and soon after, his first three-pointer. JP Batista found Yago on the drive, the Monster received the ball, pulled the defense, and served Rafael Rachel in the dead zone, who scored another three points. Rachel capitalized on her hot hand and hit another shot from distance. Flamengo had a very high efficiency from the perimeter in the first quarter, making an incredible 10 of 12 attempts, a record for the team led by Gustavo De Conti. The first half was 40-22 for Flamengo.
At the start of the second quarter, the combination of defense and quick transitions were key to the red-and-black team's success. A blocked shot by Mineiro resulted in a quick response from Dar Tucker. Both teams' performance declined in the final stretch of the period, with the Pride of the Nation making just three of 15 attempts from distance. The game went into halftime with the score 61-38 for the Most Beloved.
Flamengo started the third quarter capitalizing on plays in the paint. Rafael Mineiro made two attempts, Túlio da Silva, and Rachel reached the basket through the middle. Mineiro and Rachel also remained sharp from the perimeter, hitting the Mais Querido's first two three-pointers of the quarter. There was still time for Faverani to hit another three-pointer, and the birthday boy, Olivinha, scored a beautiful acrobatic basket. The third quarter was 86-55.
The final period followed the game's trends up to that point. The red-and-black team displayed a strong offensive output and surpassed its 100th-point mark. Free throws by Túlio da Silva gave the final score: Flamengo 113-83.
Next appointment
The Pride of the Nation awaits the clash between Paulistano and Rio Claro, in the round of 16 of the NBB, to find out their opponent in the next phase of the post-season, which will begin on April 27th.
The basketball teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo rely on resources from their sponsors – BRB, MOSS, TIM, AmBev, Rede D'or, IRB Brasil RE, CSN, Brasil Plural, EY – via the Federal Incentive Law/Ministry of Sports (IR) and State Incentive Law/State Secretariat of Sports, Leisure and Youth (Seelje) of Rio de Janeiro, in addition to support from the Brazilian Committee of Clubs (CBC).