Brazilian pride is back: Flamengo dethrone Burgos to claim second FIBA Intercontinental Cup crown

CAIRO (Egypt) - Flamengo etched their names in the annuls of history by defeating Hereda San Pablos Burgos 75-62 on Sunday to capture the 2022 FIBA Intercontinental Cup and become the sixth club to win multiple titles.

Tears of joy began to flow for Flamengo players and coaches in the closing minutes at the Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall when it was clear that the Brazilian side would secure their second Intercontinental Cup crown following their title back in 2014, when they knocked off Maccabi Tel Aviv 156-146 in a two-game aggregate victory. The reigning Basketball Champions League Americas winners lost their last appearance in the Intercontinental Cup final, falling to AEK Athens of Greece in 2019.

By winning their second trophy, Flamengo join Real Madrid (5 titles), Ignis Varese (3), Akron Goodyear Wingfoots (3), Ford Cantu (2) and Iberostar Tenerife (2) as the sixth club with multiple crowns. Burgos, meanwhile, missed out in becoming the first club since Real Madrid in 1978 to repeat as Intercontinental Cup winners.

Turning point: Flamengo gained control of the game with a 22-5 run in the first quarter to go up 16 points. Burgos were able to cut the game to nine points in the second quarter but trailed by 16 at the break. The margin was 19 points before Burgos trimmed it to 11 in the closing minutes of the third quarter. After Flamengo had gone scoreless for 4 minutes, Franco Balbi banked in a three-pointer and followed that with a floater before Brandon Robinson’s three-pointer had the Brazilian side ahead 65-49 after 30 minutes. Burgos could not get closer than 13 points in the final quarter.

Game hero: Carlos Olivinha showed up big for Flamengo as the 38-year-old collected a team-high 17 points including 3 three-pointers to go along with 3 rebounds and 2 assists for an efficiency of 20. Olivinha had plenty of help though as MVP Lucas Martinez tallied 15 points on 5 three-pointers, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals; Brandon Robinson picked up 13 points and Franco Balbi chipped in 10 points

Stats don't lie: Flamengo's bombers were back out in force once again. After they hit 18 three-pointers in the Semi-Finals against Lakeland Magic, the Brazilian club connected on 14-of-35 from long range for 40 percent while holding Burgos to just 6-of-29 for 21 percent. Flamengo also showcased their depth with 38 bench points compared to just 23 for the Spanish side.

Bottom line: This victory means quite a bit more for a couple of Flamengo players. First of all, Olivinha was 29 years old when he picked up 22 points, 12 rebounds and 3 assists in the two games en route to the 2014 crown. But he was also part of the 2019 team that lost to AEK in the championship bout along with Franco Balbi and Rafa Mineiro. The MVP Martinez also is now a two-time winner after he contributed 5 points and 2 rebounds in Venezuelan side Guaros de Lara's 74-69 victory over Fraport Skyliners in the 2016 final.

 
FIBA