Brandon Robinson wins finals MVP as Quimsa capture first BCLA title

MIAMI (UNITED STATES)  - Brandon Robinson was named Finals MVP after Quimsa defeated Flamengo in the Basketball Champions League Americas Finals 92-86. The Florida native finished the game at Arenal Arena in Uruguay with 26 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks and a steal.

“It is amazing to be MVP of one of the greatest tournaments you can play in South America,” Robinson said during the post-game press conference, “My journey has been real rough, but I stuck it out. I’m very thankful to be one of the best players in South America right now. “

Although Flamengo came into the game undefeated, Quimsa got off to an early lead thanks to stellar defense and a dominant first half from Robinson and power forward Diamon Simpson. Quimsa’s lead was high as 12 points, but Flamengo, led by Brazilian national team star small forward Marquinhos Sousa, guard Franco Balbi and shooting guard Luciano González, began knocking down long-range jumpers.

At the end of the third, Quimsa trailed Flamengo 68-63. However, the team from Santiago del Estero would take the lead with less than four minutes remaining. After back-to-back threes from guard Pablo Gramajo and Robinson, Quimsa stretched its lead to six points with three minutes remaining. Flamengo narrowed the lead down to four, but Quimsa did not let up. Quimsa shot 62 percent from the field and outrebounded Flamengo 47 to 33. Marquinhos finished the game as Flamengo’s leading scorer with 20 points.

Despite leading as much as eight points with two minutes remaining, Robinson described how he told the rest of the team not to celebrate too early and to stay focused on securing the win.

“There was a lot of excitement. Robinson said. “I just told the guys in the huddle, ‘let’s calm down everybody let’s just finish the game and get this win and then we can celebrate afterward.’”

Quimsa were no strangers to late game comebacks. In their Semi-Final series clinching game on Tuesday, October 27, against San Lorenzo, Quimsa came back after trailing 17 points, securing the victory 110-97 and its position in the BCLA championship.

 After being crowned MVP, Robinson reflected on his decision to leave Quimsa during the beginning of this year and sign with Astros de Jalisco in Mexico, eventually leaving the team in October and rejoining Quimsa.

“As everyone knows, I went to Mexico and played,” said Robinson. “It didn’t work out for me and I returned to my team. These guys accepted me with open arms. They lifted my spirits and man; this team is amazing. I love all these guys.”

In his first game back against San Lorenzo on Tuesday, Robinson scored 12 points, shooting 5 of 18 from the field. Robinson said he was disappointed by his performance and knew he needed to show up in the finals to help his team capture the championship.

 “I knew I had to come out and play, said Robinson. “You know last game was my first game back with the team after seven months. I didn’t feel like I performed well, and I told the guys tonight that I was going to come, and I was going to play. I feel like these guys trust me; I trust them. You know, any given night, with this team that we assembled right now, anybody could have a good night, but I just felt like tonight was my night.”

Despite leaving the team seven months ago, Robinson, over the course of the league’s nine games, Robinson averaged 20.1 points, shooting 41 percent from the field. Additionally, he averaged 5.9 rebounds and 4.3 per game.