SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO (Liga Sudamericana) - Marcelinho turned in one of the best performances of his career on Thursday night to lead Flamengo to a thrilling victory over Quimsa in the Liga Sudamericana title game.

The Brazil international poured in 41 points - 30 in the first half alone - and the Rio de Janeiro outfit held on for a 98-96 triumph.

Marcelinho was voted MVP of the Liga Sudamericana.

Flamengo, beaten in last year's Finals by Regatas de Corrientes, claimed the title for the first time in club history and snapped a three-year winning streak for Argentina’s Liga Nacional.

Before this year's edition, Argentina clubs had captured nine out the 13 titles in the Liga Sudamericana, which first tipped off in 1996.

Vasco de Gama (1999, 2000) and Uberlandia (2005) were the only previous winners from Brazil.

The success clinches a spot in next season's FIBA Americas League for Flamengo. Cucuta-Norte defeated Regatas 92-86 in Thursday's other game to clinch third.

Marcelinho, who is expected to represent Brazil this summer at the FIBA Americas Championship – a qualifying tournament for the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey - was magnificent.

In the first half alone, he made eight of 10 shots from behind the arc and drilled all six of his free throws as Flamengo led 49-48.

Quimsa had had the wind in their sails in the first quarter, reeling off 12 unanswered points to go in front 18-11.

Two free throws by Julio Mazzaro gave Quimsa their biggest lead at 30-18 with 50 seconds to go in the opening frame, but a technical foul helped Flamengo stop the rot.

Marcelinho went to the line and made two free throws and with Flamengo maintaining possession, he nailed a three-pointer to reduce the deficit to 30-23.

They scored again to trail by just five 10 minutes into the game.

Flamengo went back on top at 37-36 midway through the second quarter following a basket by Helio and ended up going to the break with a 49-48 lead.

Neither side was able to build a significant advantage for the first 12 minutes of the second half, with Flamengo opening the biggest at 70-65 inside the final minute of the third quarter.

Marcelinho's three-ball capped a 10-3 run that spanned the first 3:05 of the fourth quarter, though, as Flamengo led 82-71 and threatened to blow the game wide open.

Quimsa held firm.

Mazzaro scored, Vanderson made three free throws after being fouled while attempting a three-ball and Jonatan Treise struck from behind the arc to close the gap to 82-79 with 5:21 remaining.

Three-pointers by Marcelinho and Fernando Martins Alvim over the next 14 seconds increased the advantage back to nine, but Quimsa refused to give in.

A Vanderson three and Ramel Allen basket knotted the contest at 91-91 with 2:11 left.

Treise knocked down a shot from three-point land for a 94-92 Quimsa lead, only for the great Marcelinho to immediately answer with a trey for a 95-94 Flamengo advantage just 1:31 from the end.

The clash had one more tie at 96-96 after two Gabriel Mikulas free throws for Quimsa with 52 seconds left.

Treise fouled Duda, Marcelinho's younger brother, and he sank just one of two for a 97-96 lead with 41 seconds to go.

Mazzaro had a chance to put the hosts in front but missed.

Teammate Victor Hugo Cajal snared the offensive rebound but shortly after was called for an offensive foul against Duda, who made one of two again at the charity stripe.

Flamengo claimed the offensive board off the miss and time expired, leaving them with a thrilling victory.

In defeat, Vanderson, who was six of nine from behind the arc, had 25 points and Mazzaro contributed 20.

Helio and Duda poured in 15 apiece for Flamengo.

FIBA