RIO DE JANEIRO (Brazil) – Nacional (URU) set the tone defensively in the first half and went on to secure a convincing 95–76 road victory over Flamengo (BRA) at the Maracanazinho Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The win marked Nacional’s second victory over the defending champions in the Basketball Champions League Americas 2025–26. It locked up first place in Group B with one stage remaining in the Group Phase. Both Nacional and Flamengo had already clinched Quarter-Final berths heading into the matchup.
Turning point
Nacional’s defense gave Flamengo no breathing room from the opening tip, holding the hosts to just 34 percent shooting in the first half (13-of-38), including only 4-of-20 from three-point range. At the other end, the Uruguayan team made the most of every Flamengo miss, converting 19 of 32 field-goal attempts (59 percent) and going 15-of-16 from the free-throw line to build a 59–39 halftime lead. The surge came despite the absence of the leading scorer in the competition, Connor Zinaich, who was unavailable. From there, head coach Álvaro Ponce’s squad managed the advantage efficiently and was never seriously threatened down the stretch.
Player of the game
Panamanian center Ernesto Oglivie and Dominican guard James Feldeine stepped up in Zinaich’s absence, scoring 20 and 19 points, respectively.
Gianfranco Espíndola also delivered a strong performance with 17 points and 9 rebounds, while Luciano Parodi added 15 points and 5 assists. For Flamengo, big man Emanuel Fernandes was the lone player in double figures, posting a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.
Stats don’t lie
Flamengo finished the game shooting 35 percent from the field (26-of-74), compared to Nacional’s 55 percent (33-of-60). The visitors connected 13-of-29 from beyond the arc (45 percent). Nacional did most of its damage in transition, holding a 21–7 edge in fast-break points.
Bottom line
By securing first place in Group B, Nacional (4–0) ensured a Quarter-Final matchup against the runner-up from Group A. Flamengo (2–2), which had already locked up second place in the group following Obras’ elimination (0–4), will face the Group A winner. Group A action tips off on February 27, with Paisas Basketball Club (COL) hosting in Medellín, Colombia, alongside Caimanes del Llano (COL) and Astros de Jalisco (MEX).
FIBA