Sesi Franca Conquer Pinheiros for a Fifth Straight NBB Title and a Place in History

A dynasty reached a new summit on Sunday. Before a packed and emotional Pedrocao, Sesi Franca held off Pinheiros 85-76 in Game 4 to close out the NBB CAIXA 2025/26 finals 3-1 and capture a fifth consecutive championship a feat reserved for teams able to sustain excellence year after year while carrying the weight of being every rival's biggest target.
It was not a straightforward coronation. Pinheiros, with Gustavinho De Conti inserting Caua Pacheco and Agapy into the starting five, came out the more aggressive side and, dominating the offensive glass, took the opening quarter 24-18. But Franca's response in the second period was emphatic. Ramping up the defensive pressure and tightening their passing lanes under Helinho, the hosts ripped off a 32-22 quarter to lead 50-46 at the break.
The third quarter turned into a grind, with both defenses suffocating the action and every basket earned through contact and patience. In that low-scoring slog, Franca edged it 10-8 to carry a 60-54 lead into the fourth. Pinheiros refused to go quietly, scoring eight points in under two minutes as many as they had managed in the entire third quarter on an 8-2 burst to draw level and crack the game open again. With the Pedrocao roaring, Franca steadied themselves down the stretch, opening a five-point cushion with 1:06 left and finally exhaling only when the clock hit zero.
Georginho de Paula (197-PG-1996, agency: CGL Agency) flirted with a triple-double in the clincher, posting 17 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for a game-best efficiency of 27, and was duly named Finals MVP. Lucas Dias (207-C-1995) added 22 points and five rebounds, while the ageless David Jackson (192-G-1982, college: Penn State), at 43, was again pivotal with 18 points on 18-of-24 shooting. For Pinheiros, David Sloan (183-PG-1999, college: ETSU) led the way with 15 points, six assists and four rebounds, and Yan Djalo Barbosa (204-F/C-2001) matched his 15.
The title cements Sesi Franca's place among the most storied teams in NBB history, turning sustained dominance into a genuine legacy. For Georginho, it capped a season of individual rule: the point guard had already swept the regular-season MVP and Best Point Guard honors, and the Finals MVP made him just the third player to win the award twice after his 2022/23 triumph joining Guilherme Giovannoni and teammate Lucas Dias on that exclusive list.