Flamengo beats Vitória and secures sixth consecutive victory in the NBB10
MJ Rhett scores 16 and finishes as the game's top scorer. Olivinha, JP, and Marquinhos also shine.
By Lucas Dantas - Flamengo Communications - in
In a clash of undefeated teams at home, Flamengo traveled to Bahia to face Vitória/Universo and can now claim to be the only home team with a 100% record. With a great performance by MJ Rhett, who topped the scoreboard with 16 points for the first time since joining Flamengo, the Rio de Janeiro Red-Black team secured its sixth consecutive victory in the NBB, with a score of 76-68. Marquinhos (14 points, three rebounds, and three assists), Olivinha (15 points, and seven rebounds), and JP Batista (14 points, seven rebounds, and six assists) also shone in the victory. Now, Flamengo prepares for the state derby against Botafogo, next Friday at Arena Carioca 1, at 20 p.m.
With the first-quarter lead, Flamengo began dictating the pace in the second half. With Pilar and MJ on the court, the team worked to extend the lead, which reached eight points, the largest of the game so far, after a three-point play by the American. This left plenty of opportunities for individual plays, like Pecos's with seven minutes remaining. The point guard stormed the paint, passing everyone before hitting a layup and making it 30-22.
With the first-quarter lead, Flamengo began dictating the pace in the second half. With Pilar and MJ on the court, the team worked to extend the lead, which reached eight points, the largest of the game so far, after a three-point play by the American. This left plenty of opportunities for individual plays, like Pecos's with seven minutes remaining. The point guard stormed the paint, passing everyone before hitting a layup and making it 30-22.
The team, however, lost its attacking momentum and saw Vitória come back to 42-37 thanks to three-pointers, mainly from Mariano. Neto made a save. On the comeback, Flamengo held the ball better and with MJ's three-pointer, they reduced the first-half deficit to two points.
Eager to regain the lead in the third quarter, the Red-Blacks pushed hard in the third quarter. And it was with MJ, the best player on the court, that the Mais Querido turned the game around and took the lead throughout the period. The American connected well with Cubillan for a beautiful alley-oop that rocked the Cajazeiras gymnasium. MJ scored seven points in the period, essential for opening a lead that closed at 60-57.
In the final quarter, Flamengo opened up an 11-point lead, but Vitória didn't want to give up their unbeaten home record so easily. The lead, which had reached 11, dropped to seven with three minutes remaining. Neto stopped the match after the Bahian team closed in. It worked. Flamengo didn't take off, but they capitalized on their opponent's mistakes and kept scoring until they finished 76-68, steadily gaining the lead.
The basketball teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo receive funding from their sponsors – thinkseg, 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 from the Pelé Law. The Anjo da Guarda Rubro-Negro Project, a personal tax transfer, benefits all Olympic sports of the Most Beloved.
The basketball teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo receive funding from their sponsors – thinkseg, 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 from the Pelé Law. The Anjo da Guarda Rubro-Negro Project, a personal tax transfer, benefits all Olympic sports of the Most Beloved.