Flamengo played to the rhythm of samba and didn't give Austin a break
RIO DE JANEIRO (Brazil) – Samba reverberated at Rio de Janeiro’s Arena Carioca. Local team Flamengo deployed their whole game and overpowered the Austin Spurs by vanquishing them 90-58 and are now
RIO DE JANEIRO (Brazil) – Samba reverberated at Rio de Janeiro’s Arena Carioca. Local team Flamengo deployed their whole game and overpowered the Austin Spurs with a dominant 90-58 win to advance to the Grand Finale of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, where they’ll face Greece's AEK this Sunday.
📹 Watch the best action from @TimeFlamengo 🆚 @austin_spurs at the #IntercontinentalCup! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/U6imBsm3rN
— FIBA Intercontinental Cup (@FIBAIC) February 16, 2019
Argentine point guard Franco Balbi led Flamengo’s offense with 19 points —all in the first half— and five three-pointers. Small forward Marquinhos added 17, with three three-pointers; and point guard Deryk Ramos contributed 14 points with 4/4 from the three-point zone. Small forward Josh Huestis was the only one who reached double digits for the Americans, contributing 10 points to his side.
The point of no return: Austin jumpstarted the game with an 11-2 streak in the first six minutes, but Flamengo adjusted their defense, put a stop to their adversaries’ run and started to find the basket, ending that initial quarter with the momentum, 20-15. Balbi took the reins in the second quarter, and with his three-pointers widened the gap, 44-27. The third quarter of the game was practically decided when Marquinhos let loose and in the middle of the period (5:05 minutes) scored three consecutive three-pointers to set an unattainable distance in the scoreboard, 59-35.
The hero of the game: Balbi, with his three-pointers in the first half, tipped the balance to favor the Brazilians. The Argentine, besides his 16 points, dished six assists to put his squad ahead.
The numbers don’t lie: Flamengo scored 16 three-pointers in 29 attempts — in fact, they achieved more three-pointers than two-pointers (13) during the encounter. The Spurs shot 38% from the field, with a mere 4/20 from long distance. The Cariocas converted the G-League champions’ 15 turnovers in into 18 points.
Recap: The Brazilians, who already won the FIBA Intercontinental Cup in 2014, will have a great chance to win it again this Sunday, in front of their fans, in the Final against Greece’s AEK. Austin will play for the third place against Argentina’s San Lorenzo.
FIBA