Marquinhos was the man again. FlaBasquete secured its fifth consecutive victory in the NBB this Saturday, defeating Minas TC 96-84 at Arena Carioca 1, in another outstanding performance by its number 11. Marquinhos scored no fewer than 28 points and dominated the court. His peak came in the third quarter, when he scored 15 points and helped Flamengo surge in scoring, just as their opponents were putting up the most pressure and taking the lead. Without Anderson Varejão, who was ruled out of the game, Marquinhos got the ball and broke the deadlock. It was his ninth game of the NBB season with more than 20 points. 

Yes, he shone, but Flamengo as a whole had a collective performance today. Not counting João Vitor and Mogi, who came on late for less than a minute on the court, every player scored at key moments in the game, relieving the team's pressure. 

With this result, Flamengo remains in second place, behind Paulistano, with the same number of losses (three), but with three games in hand. To become the leader, besides depending on a defeat by their rivals, Flamengo still needs to win its remaining six games in the first phase. 

Olivinha also stood out, with 15 points in the match. Anderson Varejão was doing very well, with six points and seven rebounds. He was on his way to his first double-double, but after receiving two technical fouls, he was eventually ejected from the game. Before the match, Marcelinho received a special jersey in honor of his 500th game with the Manto Sagrado. FlaBasquete returns to the court next Tuesday (06), against Liga Sorocabana, in Sorocaba, at 19 pm. 

Flamengo went all out against Minas, knowing that only a win was enough to maintain their pursuit of first place. But the visitors started better, taking a 2-6 lead within the first two minutes. Flamengo then found its feet and began to control the match. The comeback came with a three-pointer from Ronald Ramon in the fourth minute, and the team then continued to score and went more than four minutes without conceding a single goal against Minas, until closing the half at 26-17. 

The second four maintained the initial balance in the first four minutes, when Flamengo stopped and saw Minas reduce the deficit from 12 to six (40-34). Cubillán extended the lead by two, and Pilar, coming off the bench, scored three to ease the score. Next, Varejão scored and brought the Arena to the team's side, which did not let the level drop again and went into the locker room with a 13-point advantage. 

The return from halftime didn't do Flamengo any favors. The team reached 54 before stopping, watching Minas Gerais play. Their rivals gradually reduced the lead and even took the lead with two minutes remaining. In this quarter, Varejão, who had been playing well, was sent off after his second technical foul. If it weren't for Marquinhos' 15 points, the opponent would have turned the game around. The number 11 made the final two free throws that put the Mais Querido ahead at the final whistle, 70-68. 

To secure the victory, Flamengo changed its style of play. Neto brought Marcelinho onto the court, and the captain's experience, combined with Marquinhos's sharpshooting, changed the game. Like a youngster, Marcelinho threw himself into the balls and rebounds, grabbing four in those 10 minutes alone, and handed points to Olivinha, Marquinhos, and JP. Flamengo shut down Minas Gerais' attack and, in the final minutes, had already sealed the victory in front of their home fans. 

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.