On Thursday night (14), Flamengo beat Bauru 92x80, at the Panela de Pressão Gymnasium, in Bauru, in the final stretch of the classification phase of the New Basketball Brazil (NBB).

The red-blacks' highlights in the game were Dar Tucker, the game's top scorer with 18 points and 9 rebounds, and Yago, the Little Monster, with 14 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds.

Now, the Pride of the Nation returns to the court on Saturday (16), to face Pinheiros, still in São Paulo, for the NBB.

The game
The match began with JP Batista on the edge of his seat, scoring the team's first six points of the game. Following the quarter, Yago went inside, converted a layup, and was fouled, completing the three-point play. Olivinha took advantage of Flamengo's strong defensive play and scored two points in transition. Faverani knocked down a three-pointer from the perimeter, but the red-and-black team struggled in the first quarter. The first half ended 23-17 for Bauru.
 
Early in the second quarter, Franco Balbi hit his first three-pointer of the game, narrowing the gap. Rachel capitalized on good offensive movement and hit a shot from distance. Yago again cut in with great speed, hit a layup, and was fouled. Rachel capitalized on her hot hand and hit another three-pointer. Flamengo managed to tighten up its defense and forced Bauru to shoot difficult shots, reducing the São Paulo team's offensive output. Offensively, Túlio da Silva and JP Batista put the Mais Querido (Best Wanted) ahead. The game went into halftime with Flamengo leading 40-37.
 
Yago started the third quarter with a beautiful three-pointer. Dar Tucker followed in the Monstrinho's footsteps and also hit his first shot from the perimeter of the match. Túlio da Silva took advantage of the opposing defense's lapse and dunked to increase Flamengo's lead. Olivinha served Faverani, who finished the play with a beautiful dunk. And as a waiter, Olivinha came in to kill the play and hit a three-pointer from the dead zone to continue Flamengo's good run. Bauru attempted a comeback, but the Pride of the Nation responded with three-pointers from Rachel and Dar Tucker, as well as Olivinha, taking advantage of their superior size in the paint to punish the opposing team. The third quarter ended 73-63 for Flamengo.

The final quarter saw Flamengo continue to dominate. Flamengo continued to force poor shots from the opposing team and capitalized offensively with Dar Tucker and Yago, who were sharp throughout the match. In the final stretch, the Pride of the Nation controlled the match and gave the final score: 92-80 in favor of Flamengo.
 
Starting Quintet
Yago, Dar Tucker, Rafael Rachel, Olivinha and JP Batista.
Coach: Gustavo de Conti.

Next appointment
Flamengo returns to the court on Saturday (16), to face Pinheiros, at 18 pm, in São Paulo, for the NBB. The clash marks the penultimate match of Mais Querido in the qualifying phase of the competition.

 
The basketball teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo rely on resources from their sponsors – BRB, MOSS, 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 Committee of Clubs (CBC).

GAME OVER IN SÃO PAULO! #FlaBasquete plays well away from home and beats Bauru by a score of 92 to 80 and wins another NBB match! That's Flamengo! #BRBNation #UntilTheEnd pic.twitter.com/Q654aE9a0o

— Time Flamengo (@TimeFlamengo) April 15, 2022