Big bands often save their hits for the end of their shows, when people most want to hear their favorite songs. Sports, especially basketball, are different. Stars need to perform consistently well to win. But what happens when the season's leading MVP candidate spends three quarters and scores just five points in 28 minutes on the court? Something's very wrong. But when a player is a star, it's best to wait. Like a famous band, Marquinhos saved his greatest hits to the end.

In the 97-92 victory over Minas Tênis Clube this Thursday at Arena Carioca 1, Marquinhos underwent a radical transformation while on the court and showed, once again, why he's been considered the best player in the NBB 10. In terms of points, he only had four in the final quarter, along with one assist and no rebounds. You might think, "Is this what you call 'his best?'" But two of those four points came on free throws with five seconds remaining, where any miss would be fatal. It's at this point that the star steps in and takes responsibility. Then, with the game tied, Marquinhos came out for the brace, or rather, overtime, ready to score his solo. In five minutes, 12 points out of 13, 100% on three-pointers, plus a rebound, an assist and he left the court as the game's top scorer with 21: the four from the last quarter, those tiny five from the first three periods, and the 12 from a historic overtime. 

After the game, the number 11 explained with the calm of someone tuning an instrument before playing on stage, how the play that decided the match in regulation time and paved the way for Flamengo to reach the NBB semifinals. 

"On the last play, you have to be very calm. I believed it would fall. That's when we gained confidence in overtime and were brave enough to take home the victory," said the player who, ironically enough, had another free throw early in overtime, but the ball changed its mind and went out of the basket. "On the first play of overtime, the ball didn't fall on a whim; it spun and went out. It happens. But I was mentally very prepared for the final quarter, and we had the luck and skill to take it," concluded the star. 

Flamengo trailed for 39 minutes and 55 seconds in the match. Minas controlled the score throughout. But that never stopped the Pride of the Nation, who fought back and never gave up. The reward came, and with a mixture of relief and pride, Marquinhos defined what was seen on the Arena Carioca 1 court.

“It was a crazy game. We were losing the whole game, but we managed to pull one back at the end.” sprint, made good saves, and took the game to overtime. That's Flamengo. We never gave up and got this win to close out the series," concluded the potential MVP of the competition.

Flamengo now awaits its opponent's exit from the Mogi-Caxias series. Currently, the score is 2-0 for the São Paulo team, and the third game will be this Friday at 21 p.m. in Mogi. 

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.