In the Arena Carioca debut, Flamengo wins the classic on Marcelinho's afternoon
The star finishes the match as the top scorer and leads the red-black team to victory over its biggest rival.
By Lucas Dantas - Flamengo Communications - in
Whoever has Marcelinho, my friend... In his last season, the 42-year-old star has been acting as a backup off the bench, coming on at specific moments and always helping the team immensely. But this Saturday, against Vasco, the captain decided he would be The Man. A spectacular performance by the number four led Flamengo to an 89-81 victory over their biggest rival and made the Arena Carioca 1, with over three thousand fans in attendance, explode at the end of the great match. Marcelinho scored 22 points, dished out four assists, and grabbed six rebounds. He was, without a doubt, the man of the match, applauded and revered by the crowd. Now, the Mais Querido celebrates the end of the year and returns to the court only on January 07th (Sunday), also at Arena Carioca, against Pinheiros.
Flamengo started the match with Pecos, Ramon, Olivinha, Marquinhos, and JP Batista in the starting five. Even with the fans supporting "Mais Querido," Vasco started the game better, taking a 0-5 lead and managing the lead, which reached nine with two minutes remaining. Neto didn't stop the game, but he made several changes to the team, bringing on Pilar and Rhett to improve the defense, but the half ended 15-26 for Vasco.
The scenario changed significantly in the second quarter. With Marcelinho on the court, Flamengo went on the attack, and the number four opened the half with a pinpoint shot from distance. Flamengo was on the better side and worked to close the gap. And it was Marcelinho, with four minutes remaining, who turned the game around with another three-pointer, putting Flamengo ahead 32-31. Vasco responded and turned the game around with Lucas, but Pecos found Marcelinho open, and Flamengo led again, 34-33. With five seconds remaining, Marcelinho hit a free throw to put Flamengo ahead 40-39, but Guilherme, in the last second, hit a three-pointer, and Vasco finished the first half ahead (40-42).
In the second half, Flamengo came out with Ramon, Marcelinho, Marquinhos, Olivinha, and JP Batista. It was the Mais Querido who scored first, after an assist from Marcelinho that found JP under the hoop, to tie the game. With the defense tight, Flamengo began to take control in the fourth. JP extended the lead to 49-46, and after stealing the ball, Ramon set up Marcelinho to score two more and force Vasco's timeout with 5 minutes remaining. They then held on to close the half ahead at 63-62.
The final quarter arrived, and Flamengo completely dominated. Marcelinho opened with a three-pointer. João Vitor burst into the paint and scored two more. Rhett also got a good hand to extend the lead. Vasco called a timeout with the scoreboard at 72-63, the red-and-black's biggest lead of the match. However, the team lost its way on the court and allowed Vasco to close the gap, reaching 69 points, which forced Neto to stop the match. It worked. On the return, Rhett fired a three-pointer to make it 75-71. The sequence continued well for Flamengo, who opened up a lead again. With three minutes remaining, Marquinhos, Marcelinho, and Olivinha showed how years of chemistry make a difference. A quick exchange of passes led to Olivinha's shot, and the score was 80-73.
The final minute was tense. The final minute was a succession of free throws and fouls. Neither team managed to create a play. With 35 seconds remaining, Flamengo led 84-80 when Neto called a timeout to set up the attack. The conversation worked, and Flamengo gave Vasco no more chances until the final whistle, which ended with a catharsis in the arena after MJ's last-second dunk. Victory secured in another round of the NBB.
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.
Flamengo started the match with Pecos, Ramon, Olivinha, Marquinhos, and JP Batista in the starting five. Even with the fans supporting "Mais Querido," Vasco started the game better, taking a 0-5 lead and managing the lead, which reached nine with two minutes remaining. Neto didn't stop the game, but he made several changes to the team, bringing on Pilar and Rhett to improve the defense, but the half ended 15-26 for Vasco.
The scenario changed significantly in the second quarter. With Marcelinho on the court, Flamengo went on the attack, and the number four opened the half with a pinpoint shot from distance. Flamengo was on the better side and worked to close the gap. And it was Marcelinho, with four minutes remaining, who turned the game around with another three-pointer, putting Flamengo ahead 32-31. Vasco responded and turned the game around with Lucas, but Pecos found Marcelinho open, and Flamengo led again, 34-33. With five seconds remaining, Marcelinho hit a free throw to put Flamengo ahead 40-39, but Guilherme, in the last second, hit a three-pointer, and Vasco finished the first half ahead (40-42).
In the second half, Flamengo came out with Ramon, Marcelinho, Marquinhos, Olivinha, and JP Batista. It was the Mais Querido who scored first, after an assist from Marcelinho that found JP under the hoop, to tie the game. With the defense tight, Flamengo began to take control in the fourth. JP extended the lead to 49-46, and after stealing the ball, Ramon set up Marcelinho to score two more and force Vasco's timeout with 5 minutes remaining. They then held on to close the half ahead at 63-62.
The final quarter arrived, and Flamengo completely dominated. Marcelinho opened with a three-pointer. João Vitor burst into the paint and scored two more. Rhett also got a good hand to extend the lead. Vasco called a timeout with the scoreboard at 72-63, the red-and-black's biggest lead of the match. However, the team lost its way on the court and allowed Vasco to close the gap, reaching 69 points, which forced Neto to stop the match. It worked. On the return, Rhett fired a three-pointer to make it 75-71. The sequence continued well for Flamengo, who opened up a lead again. With three minutes remaining, Marquinhos, Marcelinho, and Olivinha showed how years of chemistry make a difference. A quick exchange of passes led to Olivinha's shot, and the score was 80-73.
The final minute was tense. The final minute was a succession of free throws and fouls. Neither team managed to create a play. With 35 seconds remaining, Flamengo led 84-80 when Neto called a timeout to set up the attack. The conversation worked, and Flamengo gave Vasco no more chances until the final whistle, which ended with a catharsis in the arena after MJ's last-second dunk. Victory secured in another round of the NBB.
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.