Welcome Botafogo!

Botafogo is the new champion of the DIRECTV Liga Sudamericana. On a historic night, the Lone Star club beat Corinthians again at the Wlamir Marques Gymnasium, by 74 to 70, closed the final series by 2 to 1 and conquered the “Horacio Muratore Cup". In addition, the classification to the next edition of the Basketball Champions League Americas was secured.

The conquest becomes even more remarkable for being unpublished. This is the first international level title in basketball for Botafogo, who also owns a Brazilian Championship in his trophy gallery in 1967, curiously conquered over Corinthians.

 
With 20 points and five assists, Cauê Borges was the leading player in the winner and was chosen as MVP of the Final of the DIRECTV Liga Sudamericana. Another decisive man in the Rio team was the pivot Du Sommer, who started as a starter and contributed 17 points and five rebounds.

“What we do not play all season we achieve in These two games. We enter with a lot of energy, all fighting and giving their best inside the field. No one was selfish and I think that was the secret of victory. We were worried about doing the best for the team. We had ups and downs during the game, but we managed to close the game”, said the MVP of the tournament.

“It is a great pleasure to receive this MVP award, but the most important thing was the victory and the title for the team. Now we must continue working to improve even more in the rest of the season, ”concluded Cauê Borges.

The first half was practically identical to the previous duel. Intense and precise in defense, Botafogo quelled the Corinthians attack and did not let the homeowner play comfortable. The result? After the first minutes, a race of 18 to 5 that later became a 16-point advantage for the Carioca club at the end of the second quarter (41 to 25).

The difference remained in two digits for the third period, but the local reaction came in the last quarter. With a 12 to 2 run, coach Bruno Savignani's team cut the margin to just four points and woke up the audience at the Wlamir Marques gymnasium, With less than four minutes left.

After much insistence, Corinthians managed the return by subtracting just over a minute to the end of the game, with a 3-point ball from Wesley, who was one of the great responsible of the albinegra reaction. However, Botafogo soon took the lead on the scoreboard and sustained all the onslaught of the home team, which tried, on the basis of their fouls, to cause free throw errors of the Rio team. Without success. The final score was 74 to 70 for Botafogo, champion of the DIRECTV Liga Sudamericana 2019 and qualified for the next Basketball Champions League Americas.

Note: NBB (www.lnb.com.br)

Picture: Consubasquet (www.consubasquet.com)