BRA - Brazilian League round-up

Universo still top despite consecutive losses

BRASILIA (Liga Nacional de Basquete) - Universo/BRB are still clinging on to first place in the Brazilian League despite losses to Franca and Araraquara at the weekend.

Helinho had 26 points as hosts Franca beat Universo 98-89 thanks to a 34-16 second quarter that allowed them to take the lead and hold on to it the rest of the way. Guilherme Giovannoni had 23 points in the visitors' losing cause and Alex Garcia had a quiet outing with just six points.

Universo then lost away to 11th place Araraquara 95-90. Giovannoni had 31 points and Arthur Luiz added 23, but it wasn't enough as the table-toppers made it two defeats in as many games.

Those surprise results allowed Flamengo - who have yet to drop a game in the second part of the season - to come within one point of Universo.

Flamengo have a 4-0 record in the second round of the league and boast a 13-4 record overall. They crushed Londrina 95-72 at the weekend, with Jefferson Sobral going for 26 points and Marcelinho Machado adding 21.

Franca are third after their win over Universo which they followed up nicely with a 76-66 defeat of Minas Tenis. They are now 12-5 record thanks to a strong contribution from the bench and their veteran players.

In other games, Saldanha da Gama beat Paulistano 91-85, Pinheiros defeated Cetaf/Garoto 91-80 and Sao Jose dominated Joinville 93-76.



FIBA