NBB Round 34 (Regular Season): Flamengo lose to Minas in the game between Top 4 teams

The games are now more important than at the beginning of the Regular Season. We may still expect few shocking results in upcoming 8 rounds. Host teams show no mercy winning all games. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game between Top Four teams took place in Belo Horizonte. First ranked host Minas (22-4) smashed their biggest opponent Flamengo (20-7) 94-70. They outrebounded Flamengo 37-18 including 16 on the offensive glass. American Jeremy Hollowell (203-1994, college: Georgia St., agency: BIG) scored 22 points and 8 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and Argentinian guard Juan Arengo (185-1996) chipped in 26 points during the contest. At the losing side the former international point guard Alexey Borges (185-1995) responded with a double-double by scoring 10 points and 10 assists. Flamengo's coach Gustavo Conti gave up on the game allowing to play ten players seeing no chance for a win. Minas have a solid four-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 22-4 record. Flamengo at the other side keeps the second place with seven games lost. Minas are looking forward to face Caxias do Sul (#14) at home in the next round which should be another easy win for them. Flamengo's supporters also look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Rio de Janeiro Vasco da Gama.

There were no shocking results in the other games in round 34: Paulistano lost to U.Corinthians on the opponent's court 78-83. Brasilia outscored Botafogo in a home game 94-71. Sao Jose recorded a loss to Pinheiros on the road 89-80. Sesi/Franca crushed Bauru on its own court 93-71.



U.Corinthians - Paulistano 83-78

Very expected game in Santa Cruz do Sul where 12th ranked Paulistano (13-15) was defeated by seventh ranked U.Corinthians (16-11) 83-78 on Monday. However just five-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. 24 personal fouls committed by Paulistano helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Argentinian point guard Jonatan Machuca (186-1989) scored 16 points and 7 assists to lead the charge for the winners and the former international center Dikembe Andre (206-1999) chipped in 12 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists during the contest. Four U.Corinthians players scored in double figures. At the losing side forward Brunao Cardoso (197-2002) responded with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 10 rebounds and guard Gabriel Landeira (198-2004) scored 10 points and 4 assists. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. U.Corinthians moved-up to fifth place. Paulistano lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the twelfth position with 15 games lost. U.Corinthians will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Paulistano will play at home against Pato (#15) and is hoping to prove to their fans that they can break losing series.
Top scorers:
U.Corinthians: D.Johnson 19+2reb+1ast, J.Machuca 16+2reb+7ast, F.Russo 12+5reb+1ast, D.Andre 12+8reb+4ast, F.Verissimo 9+3reb+2ast, J.Dos Anjos 5+2reb
Paulistano: B.Cardoso 21+10reb+1ast, S.Neto 11+1reb, G.Landeira 10+4reb+4ast, V.Ferreira 7+1reb+1ast, L.Vieira 7+2reb, K.Crescenzi 6+4reb+4ast

Brasilia - Botafogo 94-71

Very predictable result when third ranked Brasilia (19-10) smashed at home 17th ranked Botafogo (8-20) 94-71 on Monday. Brasilia looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. American guard Anton Cook (189-1995, college: SE Oklahoma) scored 26 points and 6 assists to lead the charge for the winners and point guard Lucas Lacerda (179-1997) chipped in 23 points during the contest. At the losing side point guard Matheusinho Brito (183-2000) responded with 18 points and 6 assists and center Thiago Mathias (208-1989, college: N.Mexico JC) scored 6 points and 15 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Brasilia maintains third position with 19-10 record despite having the same number of points like the leader Minas. Newly promoted Botafogo keeps the seventeenth place with 20 games lost. They share the position with Cearense. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Brasilia: A.Cook 26+4reb+6ast, L.Lacerda 23+3reb+3ast, D.Von Haydin 11+1reb+1ast, D.Nesbitt 9+7reb+1ast, G.Sacco 6+3reb+2ast, P.Mendonca 6+4reb+3ast
Botafogo: M.Brito 18+4reb+6ast, F.Thomas 14+2reb+2ast, A.Alcassa 13+5reb+1ast, F.Queiros 7+4reb, A.Pecos 6+3reb+6ast, D.Machado 6+4reb+1ast

Pinheiros - Sao Jose 89-80

Everything could happen in Sao Paulo at the game between two tied teams. Both ninth ranked Pinheiros and 10th ranked Sao Jose had identical 14-14 record. This time Pinheiros used a home court advantage and won against the opponent from Sao Jose 89-80 on Monday night. Pinheiros dominated down low during the game scoring 48 of its points in the paint compared to Sao Jose's 28 and made 17-of-21 free shots (81.0 percent) during the game. They outrebounded Sao Jose 39-24 including a 32-17 advantage in defensive rebounds. Pinheiros looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. American point guard David Sloan (183-1999, college: ETSU) scored 22 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists to lead the charge for the winners and naturalized Guinea-Bissau power forward Yan Djalo Barbosa (204-2001) chipped in 21 points and 9 rebounds (perfect from downtown making all five shots) during the contest. Four Pinheiros players scored in double figures. At the losing side the former international guard Adyel Borges (190-2002) responded with 18 points, 6 assists and 5 steals and Argentinian swingman Martin Fernandez (195-1997) scored 19 points. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Pinheiros (15-14) moved-up to eighth place. Sao Jose at the other side keeps the tenth position with 15 games lost. They share it with Corinthians. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Pinheiros: D.Sloan 22+5reb+7ast, Y.Djalo Barbosa 21+9reb+1ast, R.Dos Santos 19+8reb+3ast, B.Da Silva 12+4reb+2ast, J.Oliveira 7+5reb+3ast, A.Samoel 4+3reb+1ast
Sao Jose: M.Fernandez 19+4reb+1ast, A.Borges 18+2reb+6ast, M.Silva 17+2reb+3ast, R.Carbonari 9+8reb+1ast, D.Silva 9+4reb+3ast, F.Vieta 5+1ast

Sesi/Franca - Bauru 93-71

Everything went according to plan in Sao Paulo where fourth ranked Vivo/Franca (17-9) outscored 7th ranked Paschoalotto/Bauru (16-13) 93-71 on Tuesday. Sesi/Franca made 20-of-22 free shots (90.9 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. International center Lucas Dias (207-1995) scored 22 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists to lead the charge for the winners and the former international point guard Georginho de Paula (197-1996) chipped in 16 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals during the contest. Four Vivo/Franca players scored in double figures. Vivo/Franca's coach Helinho Garcia felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the losing side American point guard Dontrell Brite (175-1994, college: Mount Olive) responded with 18 points and center Andrezao Barbosa de Abreu (213-2002) scored 12 points and 7 rebounds. Vivo/Franca have an impressive six-game winning streak. Sesi/Franca maintains fourth position with 17-9 record. Bauru at the other side keeps the seventh place with 13 games lost. Sesi/Franca are looking forward to face bottom-ranked Cearense (#18) in Fortaleza in the next round which should be another easy win for them. Bauru will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Sesi/Franca: L.Dias 22+9reb+4ast, R.Hettsheimeir 18+2reb, G.de Paula 16+7reb+5ast, C.Hinkle 11+2reb+2ast, W.Ferreira 8+4reb+1ast, N.Fernandes 5+4reb
Bauru: D.Brite 18+4reb+2ast, A.Barbosa de Abreu 12+7reb+1ast, M.Maciel 9+7reb+1ast, D.Rossetto 9+4reb+3ast, A.Garcia 8+3reb+4ast, P.Infante 6+2reb

Minas - Flamengo 94-70

The game between Top Four teams took place in Belo Horizonte. First ranked host Minas (22-4) smashed their biggest opponent Flamengo (20-7) 94-70. They outrebounded Flamengo 37-18 including 16 on the offensive glass. American Jeremy Hollowell (203-1994, college: Georgia St., agency: BIG) scored 22 points and 8 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and Argentinian guard Juan Arengo (185-1996) chipped in 26 points during the contest. Four Minas players scored in double figures. At the losing side the former international point guard Alexey Borges (185-1995) responded with a double-double by scoring 10 points and 10 assists and American swingman Jordan Williams (196-1992, college: N.Texas) scored 21 points. Flamengo's coach Gustavo Conti gave up on the game allowing to play ten players seeing no chance for a win. Minas have a solid four-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 22-4 record. Flamengo at the other side keeps the second place with seven games lost. Minas are looking forward to face Caxias do Sul (#14) at home in the next round which should be another easy win for them. Flamengo's supporters also look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Rio de Janeiro Vasco da Gama.
Top scorers:
Minas: J.Arengo 26+3reb+3ast, J.Hollowell 22+8reb+2ast, A.Paranhos 15+9reb+1ast, W.Braga 10+5reb+2ast, S.Machado 8+1reb+6ast, D.Fuzaro 6+5reb+5ast
Flamengo: J.Williams 21+1reb, S.Johnson 18+3ast, A.Borges 10+4reb+10ast, R.Miranda 9+9reb, G.Pereira 8+1reb+3ast, F.Balbi 4+2reb+1ast