Marquinhos and Olivinha total 50 points, Flamengo defeats Minas and advances in the Super 8
FlaBasquete awaits opponent between Pinheiros and Botafogo to dispute the semifinal
By Flamengo Communication - in
Mission accomplished. With another show from the duo Marquinhos and Olivinha, Flamengo defeated Minas Tênis Clube and advanced to the semifinals of the Super 8, the new tournament created by the NBB, which brings together the top eight teams in the standings and awards a spot in the 2019 Liga das Américas to the champion. The victory was achieved at Arena Carioca 1 this Saturday, 92-74, in the third meeting between the teams this season. Now, FlaBasquete awaits the final semifinalist. Pinheiros and Botafogo face off in São Paulo, and the winner will face the Rubro-Negro.
Marquinhos was the difference-maker in scoring. With 29, the number 11 was especially calibrated on three-pointers, scoring 12 on seven attempts. Olivinha, the other veteran idol of the Nation, scored 21, in addition to grabbing five rebounds and being essential both up front and back. The two combined for 5 points, more than half the team's total, which also featured Varejão and Balbi as other standouts. The center scored 50 and grabbed nine rebounds, while the Argentine scored eight and dished out 10 assists for his teammates.
Flamengo never trailed on the scoreboard, controlling the match throughout. Unlike the last match, when a deficit of over 20 points was reduced to five, this time the team controlled the Minas Gerais attack, reinforced by Leandrinho, who scored 20 points, without taking any major risks to secure victory. On the contrary, the deficit grew with each quarter. From eight points at the end of the first, it increased to 18 in the last, proof that Gustavo De Conti's team fully understood the work they had to do on the court. As the coach himself emphasized, the result gave Flamengo confidence.
"It's a confidence-boosting victory. After the break, we were able to train, and the team is responding very well, especially in attack. We already had the best defense, but the attack has improved a lot. The ball is moving more. This gives us more confidence moving forward."
FlaBasquete will now resume activities on Monday, aiming for the Super 8 semifinals, the date of which has not yet been set. In the NBB, the team will not play again until January, against Corinthians, on the 12th, at Parque São Jorge.
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.