It was time to win and celebrate the lead. In the strongest group in the South American League, Flamengo emerged unscathed with three wins in three games, bringing the lead with them. This Thursday, in the team's final appearance in the first phase, they won again, this time over the home team, Cimarrones del Choco, 80-70, with a great performance by Olivinha, who recorded his first official double-double of the season with 14 points and 16 rebounds. After the game, the power forward commented on his performance and Flamengo's qualification. 

"We came here with the goal of finishing in first place. We knew it would be difficult. There were three very tough games, but we managed to win and leave with our mission accomplished. I'm very happy to qualify and finish the group in first place. And to leave the match as the top scorer, in addition to having scored a double-double, that's my job and that's why I'm at Flamengo," said the star player with the number 16 shirt. 

The game

The lead was important, the assertion was important, and it was against the team that the home crowd loved. Flamengo didn't care and took the lead through JP Batista, but Cimarrones connected on two attacks and made it 2-5. It only lasted a short time. Olivinha and JP put FlaBasquete back in front, and it stayed that way. The team felt more relaxed, with Olivinha providing a backhanded assist for Marquinhos' dunk. The forward was sharp, as in the previous match. He immediately followed up with a three-pointer for his seventh point of the game. Ramon followed up with another shot from outside the zone, and then there was no way out. Flamengo 17-10, and coach Plinio Rosero stopped the game. Did it work? No. On the return leg, Cubillan hit another three-pointer, and the Mais Querido extended the lead to 10. Encouraged by the fans, the home team reacted and scored seven points in a row, but Marquinhos invaded the paint, nailed another one and closed the quarter 23x17. 

The second quarter started better for the Colombians, who scored five points in a row. But Flamengo soon found their feet on the court and got the game back into rhythm. And the team improved as the minutes went by, steadily expanding and putting on a show, including a Ramon-MJ alley-oop to make it 38-26. From there, it was just a matter of holding on and passing the ball to close the first half (well) ahead at 42-29. 

With a large lead, Flamengo slowed down, and the Colombians came out swinging in the third period. The 13-point deficit dropped to two when Neto stopped the game to get his team in line. MJ Rhett got the message, stormed the paint, cleared everyone's path, and sunk another shot. However, the Cimarrones kept pace with the crowd, capitalizing on FlaBasquete's repeated mistakes, and turned the game around with Michael Jackson's dunk. Flamengo tried to find their footing, but the Cimarrones' shots kept falling, like Carraway's with 18 seconds remaining, making it 53-58 at the end of the period. 

Time to breathe and get the team back on track. The final quarter was a back-and-forth affair. Flamengo was chasing, and Cimarrones maintained a six- or seven-point lead until Cubillan scored a three-pointer to reduce the score to 60-63. Olivinha used the same strategy and tied the score. Cimarrones opened up again after JP touched the backboard while the ball was in the rim. And it was up to JP himself, on a fouled play, to tie the score again. That's when FlaBasquete woke up and took control of the game again. Olivinha had already achieved his double-double of the match and led the way. There was no way for the Colombians to get closer. Pecos finished with two free throws and sealed another Flamengo victory. 

The basketball teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo receive funding from their sponsors – 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 generated by the Pelé Law. The Anjo da Guarda Rubro-Negro Project, a personal tax transfer, benefits all Olympic sports of the Most Beloved.