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.
