Sesi Franca came out ahead of Flamengo in the final of the 2021/2022 edition of Novo Basquete Brasil (NBB). This Saturday (28), São Paulo won the first game of the decision by 85 to 79 at the Pedrocão gymnasium, in Franca (SP).
Pivot Lucas Mariano and Pivot Lucas Dias, both from Franca, scored 20 points and scored in the match. With seven rebounds, Lucas Dias was elected the best player on the court. The winger Georginho, also from the São Paulo team, scored 17 points and distributed five assists. On the red-black side, the highlights were point guard Luke Martínez and point guard Yago, both with 15 points.
The teams will meet again this Thursday (2), at 7:15 pm (Brasilia time), at Maracanãzinho, in Rio de Janeiro, which will also host game three of the match, next Saturday (4), at 4:10 pm. If necessary, Pedrocão will host the fourth match, on the 9th, at 7 pm, and the fifth, at 4:10 pm, two days later.
The greatest champion of men’s basketball, Franca seeks the Brazilian title for the 12th time, being the first in the NBB era (started in 2008). The paulistas haven’t won a national championship since 1999 and need two more wins in the confrontation to end the fast. Flamengo, in turn, is the second with the most titles, having eight cups (seven in the NBB). Rubro-Negro won the last two editions of the tournament. To take the tri, you have to get the better of three of the next four games of the decisive series.
Franca’s efficiency made the difference in the first half of the match. The Paulistas led the score most of the time, being behind only between minutes two and three of the second period, when Flamengo went ahead by two points. The hosts were more accurate on shots, especially from two points, with 64% hits in 14 attempts. In 23 balls, the Cariocas had only 47% of success. No wonder, the home team went to halftime winning by 41 to 32.
The third period was the most disputed of the match, with Franca opening 14 points and Flamengo looking for a tie with one minute of the end of the partial, led by Martínez’s three-pointers. In the final seconds, the Paulistas fitted two counterattacks and regained control of the game. The Cariocas won the fourth by 26 to 24, but little impacting the hosts’ advantage, still at seven points.
The final ten minutes were completely dominated by Franca, with an efficiency that reached almost 70% in three-pointers (finished at 50%). The Paulistas opened 16 points ahead, the Cariocas reacted and shortened the difference to six points, but the victory was really with the hosts, for the fans to celebrate at Pedrocão.
