BRA - Flamengo edge out Universo in finals opener

RIO DE JANEIRO (Liga Nacional de Basquete) - Flamengo Río de Janeiro held off Universo/BRB to win the first game of the Brazilian National League finals 88-84.

Helio scored 27 points, Marcelinho Machado added 22 and his brother Duda chipped in with 14 for Flamengo, who played the series opener in front of 6,500 fans.

Flamengo made the most of the home court advantage as they took a 26-16 lead at the end of the first quarter and extended that to a 48-34 cushion by halftime. They led by as many as 20 at one point in the second period before Guilherme Giovanni used a three-point barrage to cut the deficit for the visitors.

In the third quarter, Universo came out more aggressively and cut into the lead to get within 66-60 heading into the final frame.

And they kept coming, eventually taking their first lead, 69-68, on an Alex Garcia three-pointer.

But Flamengo quickly regained the lead and Helio helped them secure the win.

Guilherme paced Universo with 21 points while Garcia finished with 16 and Nezinho had 15.

Game 2 is in Brasilia on Friday.

FIBA