Jhonatan scores 23 points and leads Flamengo to victory over Mogi in the NBB
With a 20-point difference, Mengão scores its fourth consecutive point this season and takes sole leadership.
By Lucas Dantas - in
All the ingredients of a classic like Flamengo vs. Mogi were on the court Tuesday night at Arena Carioca. Comebacks, dunks, plenty of three-pointers, a big win at the end, and a hero. Not a hero of the last ball, but of the last quarter. With a stunning performance in the final 10 minutes, Jhonatan was "the man" of the match with 23 points and upset the already established balance. The 93-73 scoreline was completely fair, and the difference was entirely built on Jhonatan's play in the final quarter, when he gave everything. And with the result, the Mais Querido defeated their traditional rival in the fourth round of the NBB and remained the only undefeated team in the competition this season. The triumph also marked the beginning of the team's series of home games, also against Pinheiros and Corinthians.
Jhonatan led all scorers, grabbing four rebounds and five steals. Marquinhos scored 15 points, grabbed four rebounds, and dished out four assists. Nesbitt also finished with 15 points and six rebounds.
Flamengo controlled the first four, mainly defensively, with 10 rebounds, including six defensive ones. Mogi das Cruzes felt the game and saw Mengão play freely. The team's main weapon, the three-pointer, was left aside in this period, giving Nesbitt more space for his infiltrations, especially his connection with Marquinhos. The Bahamian scored four points in the period, standing out and being essential to the 21-16 victory.
The next 10 minutes were much more even. Flamengo slowed down, Mogi grew, and the score tightened. Flamengo's leading player was Marquinhos, with seven points, but Flamengo ended up trailing by one point. With Mogi trailing 20-21, the Pride of the Nation saw the deficit narrow in the end, but without causing any problems. The halftime break ended with a four-point lead, which would prove crucial for the rest of the match, especially in the second half.
The second half was completely different. Flamengo unleashed itself on the court, and what had been dominance practically became domineering. Jhonatan, Marquinhos, and Mineiro led the Rio de Janeiro team, and the team grabbed nine rebounds to their rivals' five. Only Gui Deodato posed any threat for Mogi, but it wasn't enough to close the gap, which reached 11 by the end of the quarter, practically sealing victory.
And as anticipated in the previous half, the final 10 minutes were all that was needed to seal Mengão's victory. And that's when Jhonatan made it happen. With 14 points, the number 7 was the only player who didn't make it rain at the Arena. Unstoppable, he stole balls, scored threes, twos, and was always open. With a great collective offensive game, the team created space for shots, and Mogi watched the balls fall relentlessly. The final result was a well-deserved victory by 20 points and their fourth in a row in the competition.
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.