Flamengo wins National championship Universo/BRB - Flamengo
96:101
Flamengo became the new champions of the CNBM. They completed the sweep of
Universo/BRB in the Finals and changed Universo/BRB at the peak. Universo
players had their backs against the wall entering the game. They trailed 0-2 and
needed some heroics in Brasilia to stay alive in the finals. The defending
champions threw all they had and fought bravely. The hosts jumped to an early
lead and finished the opening stanza ahead 28:23. However pretty soon Flamengo
managed to even the tempo. The teams traded baskets in the second period and the
visitors cut the deficit by a single point trailing 42:46 at the interval. The
tension grew higher as two players were disqualified in the third period.
Fernando Coloneze and Maurice Spillers had to leave the court. Universo/BRB kept
the visiting team at bay at the moment and headed into the final period up by 5
points. But Flamengo ad
Marcelinho Machado (200-F/G-75, agency:
Interperformances) in the lineup. He almost singlehandedly carried the Rio
de Janeiro to the win in the final quarter. The visitors outscored the hosts by
10 points in the fourth stanza and stole a narrow but yet so triumphant victory
at the end.
Marcelinho Machado finished the game with impressive 40 points for Flamengo.
He was named the tournament's MVP after the game.
Eduardo Duda Machado (197-F-82) provided 22 points, while
Helio Vitor Lima (185-G-81) dropped 13 points in a win.
Arthur Luiz Belchior (197-G/F-82) answered with 20 points for Universo/BRB.
Ratto Fonseca (181-G-69) and
Valtinho Silva (187-G-77, agency:
Interperformances) had 17 points apiece in a loss.
