After winning the Super 8 Cup title, Flamengo returned to the court for the NBB and beat Fortaleza Basquete Cearense 77-74 on Tuesday night (26), at Maracanãzinho-RJ. The red-black highlight in the match was Olivinha, with 20 points and six rebounds.  

The game
The Pride of the Nation started the first quarter strong, and in the opening minutes, Olivinha hit three consecutive three-pointers. Strong on defense, the Flamengo team managed to shut down Fortaleza's offensive plays. When they went forward, Flamengo had the confidence to work the ball and convert their points. In the final minutes, the Ceará team fought back and closed the gap. Mengão finished the first quarter ahead: 24-18.

Early in the second quarter, Rafael Mineiro had the freedom to shoot a three-pointer and converted for the Red-Blacks. Fortaleza came back stronger and gave the Red-Blacks defense a hard time. Olivinha continued to have a calibrated hand and excellent three-point shooting. In a play with Léo Demétrio in the paint, Hettsheimeir delivered a beautiful dunk to convert two more points. The Red-Blacks' number 30 also hit three more three-pointers in a row, further increasing Mengão's lead in the match: 46-30.

Coming back into the third quarter, Fortaleza adjusted its defense and made it difficult for Flamengo to attack. Despite scoring only twelve points in the quarter, the red-and-black team managed to maintain its 58-46 lead.

In the fourth quarter, Yago received the ball freely behind the three-point line and converted the shot for Flamengo. Olivinha, with a strong performance on the court, scored another three-pointer for Mengão. In the final minutes, the Ceará team showed a powerful comeback and reduced the deficit to three points. But Mengão held on for a 77-74 victory.

Highlights:
Olivinha - 20 points and 6 rebounds;
Hettsheimeir - 14 points and 7 rebounds;
Rafael Mineiro - 13 points;
Marquinhos - 9 points, 7 assists and 7 rebounds.

And now?
The Pride of the Nation returns to the court next Thursday (28) to face Unifacisa, at 20 pm, again at the Maracanãzinho gymnasium, in Rio de Janeiro.  

Starting Quintet
Franco Balbi, Jhonatan Luz, Marquinhos, Olivinha and Rafael Mineiro.


The basketball teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo rely on resources from their sponsors – BRB, TIM, AmBev, Rede D'or, IRB Brasil RE, CSN, Brasil Plural, EY – via the Federal Incentive Law/Ministry of Sports (IR) and State Incentive Law/State Secretariat of Sports, Leisure and Youth (Seelje) of Rio de Janeiro, in addition to support from the Brazilian Club Committee (CBC).