Flamengo dominate in Rio, UdeC pick up first victory of the season

MIAMI (United States) – Flamengo and Universidad de Concepcion jumpstarted the second stage of the 2022-23 Basketball Champions League Americas with strong performances against Peñarol and Obras on Friday to notch important wins in Groups C and D, respectively. Here's how the matches played out:

Flamengo 103 – 47 Peñarol

Playing in front of their fans at Tijuca Tenis Clube, Flamengo put on a majestic performance to defeat Peñarol, 103-47, and move to the top of Group C of BCLA Americas.

The Brazilians were undeniable from long distance, converting on 22 three-pointers at a 39.3 percent clip to rout the Uruguayan visitors.

It was veteran Lucas Martínez who got the party started, nailing 7 of his first 8 attempts.

 

The Mexican sharpshooter led his team with 23 points in 23 minutes and just about put the game out of reach early in the second quarter.

Peñarol managed to cut the deficit down to 11 points toward the end of the first half, but that turned out to be just a mirage as Flamengo came out roaring after halftime.

The Brazilians never lifted their foot off the gas and finished with seven different players scoring in double digits. There was even some time for fun and games, with the Argentinian duo of José Vildoza and Penka Aguirre entertaining the home crowd with this breathtaking fast break:

 

Vildoza and Aguirre were the creative engines of the operation, combining for 17 of the team's 33 assists.

And with the ball moving and the open man being found time and again, everybody joined the party.

Guilherme Deodato shot 4/6 from downtown and scored 12 points, while Rafael Hettschmeier and Ricardo Fischer bombed 3 threes apiece to finish with 11 each.

Paint scoring was about the only area where Peñarol stayed afloat, winning the category 28-24. However, the Uruguayans had no answer there for Gabriel Galvanini.

The 24-year-old forward had a massive 14-point, 15-rebound double-double and chipped in four assists and a pair of steals off the bench.

Flamengo's dominance extended to the defensive side as well, as they held Peñarol to 35 percent from the field.

The visiting squad shot just 2/17 from long distance and none of their players managed to score in double digits, with José Mayora (8) and Rodney Green (7) providing the team's best scoring efforts.

With the win, Flamengo recovered from their loss to Instituto in December and moved to 2-1. Peñarol is now 1-2 and will face Instituto on Saturday.

Obras 69 – 90 UdeC

Universidad de Concepcion led wire to wire and pulled off the upset, defeating Obras Sanitarias on the road, 90-69, to notch their first win in Group D of the 2022-23 Basketball Champions League Americas.

The Chilean squad opened a double-digit lead toward the end of the second quarter and held the home team in check throughout the second half and reaching their biggest lead (21 points) right before the final buzzer.

UdeC had a balanced attack throughout the game, mixing great outside shooting (50% on 26 attemps) and 28 points in the paint.

The American duo of Reyshawn Terry and Jerry Evans Jr. led the way for the visiting squad and Obras was never able to find a way to stop them.

Terry led the way with 26 points on 10/15 from the field in 33 minutes of action:

 

Evans Jr. was even more versatile.

The 32-year-old center contributed a big double-double (17 points and 13 rebounds) while adding a pair of assists and steals, plus a block.

 

Evans Jr.'s defensive prowess was also instrumental in keeping the home team to under 40 percent from the field.

Obras just wasn't even to make enough shots to mount a proper comeback attempt.

Joaquín Rodríguez led the Argentinians with 21 points on 8/17 from the field but was held scoreless in the fourth quarter.

 

Power forward Emiliano Serres (15 points and 7 rebounds off the bench) was the only other player on Gregorio Martínez's squad to score in double digits.

For UdeC's Diego Silva scored 10 of his 18 in the second half, including 7 in the final stanza, coinciding with his team's best moments.

The win allowed the Chileans to improve to 1-2 in Group D (tying Obras) and will now look to down the undefeated Franca (2-0) on Saturday.

FIBA