Flamengo begins with victory on its way to the South American title
With 30 points from Marcelinho and the support of the fans, the team defeats Argentinian team Boca Juniors 80-70
By Media Relations - in
En route to their second championship title, Flamengo defeated Boca Juniors in their debut in the final hexagonal of the South American Basketball League. Playing in front of their home crowd, the red-and-black team defeated the Argentines 80-70 (42-29) in a match played at the HSBC Arena in Jacarepaguá, Rio de Janeiro. Marcelinho led all scorers with 32 points.
"We're aware that we didn't start the match very well, both in terms of movement and shot selection. The team was a bit strange, but we didn't let Boca get too far ahead on the scoreboard. Credit to our defense. Little by little, we improved our attack and the balls started falling naturally again. It could have been a little better, but it's always important to start with a win," said the winger, already thinking about the match against Franca, this Friday (26.11).
"They're a traditional team, we had a very competitive play-off in the NBB. Tomorrow (Friday) they'll have a very decisive game against us. We'll have to know how to play with the home court advantage and not give Franca's players any space," he added.
After scoring the first three points of the match, Flamengo let Boca Juniors take the lead and lead by five for much of the first half. The red-and-blacks ended the first quarter trailing (17-18), but showed a strong comeback when Jefferson, who was on the bench, entered the court and led the comeback, with 14 points in seven minutes.
With the score at one point (24-25), the power forward was fouled on a three-point attempt, hit all three free throws, and turned the game around to 26-25 with less than four minutes to go before halftime. Flamengo grew in the game and closed the first half at 42-29.
After halftime, Boca Juniors fought back and leveled the score, tying the third quarter at 22. At times, the Argentines threatened to close the gap to as little as five points, but the red-and-black team held on to win by ten points.
Like Jefferson, Hélio also started the match on the bench and, upon entering the court, helped Flamengo turn the match around, scoring seven points.
"It was a good victory and a very tough, tough game. Sometimes even violent, but that's part of the game, because everyone wants to win. The strength of our group is having players who are capable of coming in and making a difference, playing at a high level. It's precisely this rotation that often wins a match," he believes.
Satisfied with his participation in the red-black comeback, Jefferson highlighted the importance of achieving a good result to enter the court and decide the classification to the semifinals with Franca.
"We started off on the right foot; winning at home is always great. I knew how to take advantage of the opportunity and ended up helping the team at a more difficult moment in the match. We know that Franca is a strong team, with very experienced players, and we have to go in focused if we want to win; it will be a tough task," commented the power forward.
Flamengo: Marcelinho (32), Guto (2), Fred (6), Teichmann (2), Bábby (7). Entered: Helio (7), Wagner (-), Jefferson (16), Átila (8). Coach: Paulo Chupeta.
Boca Juniors: Moodie (8), Titarelli (7), Vega (17), Ezugwu (12), Martina (12). Entered: Fierro (2), Ingles (-), Delia (-), Brussino (12), Copello (-). Coach: Pablo D'Angelo.
"We're aware that we didn't start the match very well, both in terms of movement and shot selection. The team was a bit strange, but we didn't let Boca get too far ahead on the scoreboard. Credit to our defense. Little by little, we improved our attack and the balls started falling naturally again. It could have been a little better, but it's always important to start with a win," said the winger, already thinking about the match against Franca, this Friday (26.11).
"They're a traditional team, we had a very competitive play-off in the NBB. Tomorrow (Friday) they'll have a very decisive game against us. We'll have to know how to play with the home court advantage and not give Franca's players any space," he added.
After scoring the first three points of the match, Flamengo let Boca Juniors take the lead and lead by five for much of the first half. The red-and-blacks ended the first quarter trailing (17-18), but showed a strong comeback when Jefferson, who was on the bench, entered the court and led the comeback, with 14 points in seven minutes.
With the score at one point (24-25), the power forward was fouled on a three-point attempt, hit all three free throws, and turned the game around to 26-25 with less than four minutes to go before halftime. Flamengo grew in the game and closed the first half at 42-29.
After halftime, Boca Juniors fought back and leveled the score, tying the third quarter at 22. At times, the Argentines threatened to close the gap to as little as five points, but the red-and-black team held on to win by ten points.
Like Jefferson, Hélio also started the match on the bench and, upon entering the court, helped Flamengo turn the match around, scoring seven points.
"It was a good victory and a very tough, tough game. Sometimes even violent, but that's part of the game, because everyone wants to win. The strength of our group is having players who are capable of coming in and making a difference, playing at a high level. It's precisely this rotation that often wins a match," he believes.
Satisfied with his participation in the red-black comeback, Jefferson highlighted the importance of achieving a good result to enter the court and decide the classification to the semifinals with Franca.
"We started off on the right foot; winning at home is always great. I knew how to take advantage of the opportunity and ended up helping the team at a more difficult moment in the match. We know that Franca is a strong team, with very experienced players, and we have to go in focused if we want to win; it will be a tough task," commented the power forward.
Flamengo: Marcelinho (32), Guto (2), Fred (6), Teichmann (2), Bábby (7). Entered: Helio (7), Wagner (-), Jefferson (16), Átila (8). Coach: Paulo Chupeta.
Boca Juniors: Moodie (8), Titarelli (7), Vega (17), Ezugwu (12), Martina (12). Entered: Fierro (2), Ingles (-), Delia (-), Brussino (12), Copello (-). Coach: Pablo D'Angelo.