This Sunday morning (26) was a Rio classic full of controversies at Maracanãzinho. In the quarterfinals of the Super 8 Cup, which brings together the top eight from the first round of the Novo Basquete Brasil (NBB), Flamengo defeated Vasco 92 to 73 and advanced to the semifinals. Rubro-Negro’s opponent will emerge from the clash between Franca and Pinheiros, this Sunday.
Confusion on and off the court caused the match to be stopped in the third and fourth quarters. Vasco even left the court citing a lack of security, but returned to play the final minutes of the game, but without competing.
The classic was marked by balance, with the teams close on the scoreboard throughout practically the entire game. At the beginning of the third quarter, a disagreement between Gallizzi, from Flamengo, and Eugeniusz, from Vasco, caused widespread confusion that paralyzed the match for approximately 20 minutes. The balance was three expulsions, two at Vasco (Humberto and Marquinhos) and one at Flamengo (Gallizzi).
At that time, the match had a two-point lead from Flamengo (48 to 46), but adding the technical fouls and expulsions in greater numbers on the opponent, Rubro-Negro amended a sequence, opening up 12 points. Vasco reacted in the third quarter and equalized the score at 63-63 at the beginning of the last period. However, Flamengo got going again and took the lead again.
When there were 3:37 left in the game, Eugeniusz and coach Léo Figueiró were excluded for fouls and, as they left the court, they were shot by water bottles thrown by red and black fans. Vasco officials ordered the team to be removed from the court due to lack of security.
The team went to the locker room and stayed there for approximately half an hour, until deciding to return to the game. However, when the ball went up again, Vasco refused to compete. When in possession of the ball, most of the time the team simply let the 24 seconds of possession elapse without attacking. In defense, the team did not purposefully offer resistance.
Americans Shaq Johnson (20 points) and Jordan Williams (18) were Rubro-Negro’s main scorers in the match.
Minas and Brasília advance
The first semi-final of the Super 8 Cup was defined on Saturday (25). Minas and Brasília won their home games and advanced to the next stage.
In Belo Horizonte, Minas, who finished the first phase in the lead, hosted São Paulo and won 82 to 66. Rafa Mineiro and Baralle, both with 13 points, were the scorers for the home team.
In the national capital, Brasília defeated União Corinthians 85 to 75 at the Nilson Nelson gymnasium. Lucas and Gemadinha each contributed 18 points and were the highest scorers on the winning team.
