Two local teams will seek a perfect finish

RIO DE JANEIRO (Brazil) – The debut’s pressure is past in this BCL Americas’ second edition, and now they will strive for the 2-0 at home, a fundamental step for moving to the competition’s next phase. This Friday, the first window will close with dos matches: Flamengo (1-0) against (0-1) and Real Estelí (1-0) against Titanes (0-1).

Day: 5/2. Local time: 8.40pm. TV: DIRECTV Sports and DAZN.
Referees: Daniel Alberto García Nieves (Venezuela), Felipe Ibarra (Chile) and Nicolás Daniel Flores Avalos (Paraguay).
Stadium: Maracanazinho, Rio de Janeiro.

The Maracanazinho will host a duel between two strong candidates. On one hand, Flamengo, who defeated Minas Tenis 79-69 on its debut, and on the other hand, Instituto, who lost against Minas 100-85.

The “Mengao” will seek to close the first window with a 2-0 record, thinking about qualifying for the tournament’s next phase, where it will try to redeem itself for last year’s lost final. For its part, Sebastián Ginóbili’s team will need to improve its debut performance and a win would level them with the Brazilian teams, i.e., every team would have a 1-1 record.

Day: 5/2. Local time: 8.10pm. TV: DIRECTV Sports and DAZN.
Referees: Jorge Vázquez (Puerto Rico), Alexis Mercado Pacheco (Puerto Rico) and José Fernández (Costa Rica).
Stadium: Polideportivo Alexis Argüello, Managua, Nicaragua.

The window’s last match will take place in Managua, with the duel between Real Estelí and Titanes de Barranquilla. The Nicaraguan team had its country’s support during its debut, and they defeated Caballos de Coclé 78-69, whereas the Colombian team lost against Panama’s champion 74-67, in a match they were winning but got away at the end.

Real Estelí wants the 2-0 record and to get closer to the next phase, thinking to equal or improve last season’s performance, when it lost against Instituto de Córdoba in the quarterfinals. For Titanes, it will be an opportunity to leave a bad night behind and show why it’s the country’s champion.

FIBA