Flamengo secured their fourth consecutive victory in the Novo Basquete Brasil (NBB) league on December 23, 2023, defeating Paulistano 89 to 75 at the Ginásio Antônio Prado Júnior, São Paulo. This win marks Flamengo's sixth victory across all competitions, placing them firmly within the chase of the league leader, Minas.
The result improves Flamengo's NBB record to 14 wins and three losses, making them second to Minas, who stand at 15 wins and two losses. The match against Paulistano also solidified Flamengo's position as the team with the best away performance, boasting six wins and one loss when playing on other courts. Paulistano, the last NBB champion not titled by Flamengo or Franca, finds itself struggling this season, currently sitting at the tenth place.
From the outset, Flamengo demonstrated its intent to dominate, scoring 30 points within the first quarter. Their pace was relentless as they built a significant lead of 30 to 18 by the end of the first period. Although Paulistano managed to push back during the second quarter, outscoring Flamengo 27 to 18, they still went to halftime trailing at 48 to 45.
During the third quarter, Flamengo tightened its defense, allowing only ten points from Paulistano, all the whilst scoring 27 points themselves. This defensive break solidified their lead, pushing their advantage to as much as 20 points by the end of the quarter, ending it at 75 to 55.
The final quarter saw Flamengo managing their lead effectively, allowing minimal threats as they closed out the match at 89 to 75. With this latest win, Flamengo has gained significant momentum, having recorded six consecutive wins across all competitions, including victories over Pato Basquete and Bauru, as well as international wins against characters like Boca Juniors from Argentina and Toros de Chiriquí from Panama.
Individual performances were key to Flamengo's success. Alexey was the standout player of the match, notching up 21 points and delivering 11 assists, achieving impressive numbers with his double-double. Other notable scores from Flamengo included Shaq Johnson with 17 points, Jordan Williams with 14 points, and Taya Gallizzi contributing 12 points.
On the opposite side, Paulistano's Lucas Atauri was noteworthy, scoring 16 points, primarily earned during the first quarter. The team also displayed resilience by hitting 16 three-pointers throughout the game, indicating their fight even as they lagged behind on the scoreboard.
Looking forward, Flamengo will face São José next on December 27, at 20:00 (Brazil time) and later clash with Mogi on December 29 at home. With their impressive track record and growing confidence, Flamengo appears set for continued success, and fans remain eager to see how the season will evolve.
