In the quarterfinals of the Super 8 Cup, FlaBasquete beat Vasco 92-73 this Sunday (26), at the Maracanãzinho gymnasium, and qualified for the tournament's semifinal. Shaq Johnson was the highlight of the classic with 20 points scored. Now, the Pride of the Nation awaits its opponent in the next phase.

Highlights
Shaq Johnson - 20 points;
Jordan Williams - 18 points;
Jhonatan Luz - 13 points;
Alexey - 13 points.

1st Bedroom
FlaBasquete's first points came from Lucas Siewert, who beat the ball in the paint to convert. Vasco, in turn, started well on offense and took the lead. The red-and-black team reacted quickly and turned the score around, being accurate with three-pointers. Showing superiority on the court, the Pride of the Nation prevailed at the end of the quarter and closed out the quarter with a 29-24 lead.  

2st Bedroom
In the opening minutes of the second quarter, Vasco cut the deficit to just one point. The match remained evenly matched, with the teams alternating the lead. On the court, Gui Deodato hit a three-pointer at a key moment in the quarter. Balbi made a great play in the paint, spinning around the defense, and scoring two more points. The Pride of the Nation managed to maintain a two-point lead and went into halftime leading 43-41.

3st Bedroom
Returning to the third quarter, the derby remained evenly matched, with Vasco regaining the lead. Jordan Williams burst into the paint and scored two more points for "Mais Querido." The American then converted a three-pointer to put Flamengo back in front. It's worth noting that the match was halted for a considerable period due to a scuffle between players from both teams. Taya Gallizzi, for the red-and-black team, and Marquinhos and Humberto, for the Cruzmaltino team, were ejected from the court. After the stoppage, FlaBasquete came back stronger and opened up a 12-point lead. In the final minutes, Vasco closed in again, but Mengão remained ahead by two points: 63-61.

4st Bedroom
In the final quarter, the game remained evenly matched. Alexey and Jhonatan Luz hit shots from the perimeter, adding six more points for the red-and-black team. Jordan Williams, from distance, converted another three-pointer. Three-pointers were pouring in! This time from Shaq Johnson, who excelled with his excellent scoring performance. With a little over three minutes remaining, another altercation on the court halted the game again. The reason was a cup thrown at the Vasco player. As a result, the Vasco team left the court and remained in the locker room for a long time. When the game resumed, the opponent practically refused to play anymore, and with that, FlaBasquete won 92-73, qualifying for the Copa Super 8 semifinals.

Next challenge
The Pride of the Nation returns to the court next Wednesday (29) to face Franca, at 19 pm, at Maracanãzinho, in the semi-final of the Super 8 Cup. 

Starting Quintet
Alexey, Shaq Johnson, Jhonatan Luz, Lucas Siewert and Ruan Miranda.
Coach: Gustavo De Conti.