Leading the scoreboard from start to finish, Flamengo defeats Corinthians in the NBB and reaches its fifth victory
The victory in the classic was the first in the history of the teams in the main competition of Brazilian basketball.
By Flamengo Communication - in
On a special afternoon in the Novo Basquete Brasil, Flamengo hosted Corinthians at Arena Carioca 1 for a classic match never before seen in the competition. For the first time, the two teams faced off, and in the end, the team with the longest history and most iconic Brazilian basketball history prevailed. Holders of five national titles, the "Mais Querido" (the most beloved team) led from start to finish and, despite a well-underperforming second quarter, took no major risks in securing the victory. The 72-64 scoreline may have hinted at a closeness that wasn't evident during the game.
It was the team's fifth win in the current NBB season, taking the lead in the standings, but still awaiting the outcome of the Pinheiros vs. Minas Tênis Clube match. With 16 points, Marquinhos led the way. Number 11 also grabbed five rebounds. Davi scored 11 points and had four assists, while Nesbitt also had 10 points and five rebounds. Flamengo returns to action next Tuesday against Bauru, away from home, at 20 pm.
Quite different from the last match, Flamengo entered the court with a different rhythm and put pressure on Corinthians, with efficient defense on the rebounds and quick passing on the attack. With two beautiful drives by Nesbitt, the team took a 6-0 lead. Corinthians had virtually no chance of attacking, and Flamengo extended the lead, eventually taking a 17-4 lead and forcing Corinthians coach Bruno Savignani to call a timeout. It was of little use. Their dominance was so strong that the 23-6 margin at the end practically decided the game.
A more balanced second quarter emerged. Corinthians hit the ball harder, and Flamengo took more than four minutes to score their first points, with Marquinhos scoring a three. With low efficiency up front and São Paulo's comeback, the lead narrowed, reaching eight with 2:40 remaining in the quarter. With the basket, the team began to find its feet on the court, and even with all the momentum gone, they still finished ahead, 33-29.
The second half was evenly matched. Flamengo and Corinthians scored low, but alternated attacks and had excellent defensive moments. Gustavo made few changes to the team, keeping the quartet of Davi, Balbi, Nesbitt, and Marquinhos on the court for practically the entire quarter. In the most even period, Flamengo led 13-12 at the end, still leading 48-44.
What looked like it would be even in the end turned out to be a red-and-black tsunami. Flamengo returned to their former glory from the first quarter and stopped Corinthians on their side of the court. With a lot of grit and fighting in the paint, the Pride of the Nation began to collect the balls that fell, which made a big difference in the end. Rafael Mineiro became the master of the paint and was essential with seven points to open the 11-point lead that dictated the half. At the final whistle, Flamengo won the classic and returned to the winning column in the NBB.
The basketball teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo receive funding from their sponsors – thinkseg, 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.