Mogi Basquete confirmed its leadership in Group E of the South American Basketball League quarterfinals with an 82-71 victory over Uruguay's Nacional on Sunday night. The match took place at the Hugo Ramos Gymnasium during the third and final round of the stage. Although Mogi had already qualified for the Final Four before entering the court, the team secured the top position in the bracket with six points, achieving a 100% win rate in this phase.
The game's leading scorer was center Dikembe, who contributed 16 points and eight rebounds. Other key contributors for Mogi included forward Daniel Von Haydin with 15 points, power forward Paulo Lourenço with 13, and guard Brite with 12. For Nacional, center Luismal Ferreiras led the scoring efforts with 15 points. The Uruguayan team also secured a spot in the decisive phase, finishing second in the group with five points and two wins.
The match began with Mogi establishing an early lead through strong defense and transition speed, opening with a six-point advantage. Despite Nacional's reaction to balance the game using offensive rebounds, Mogi closed the first quarter at 21-19. In the second quarter, Mogi utilized efficient three-point shooting, including consecutive shots by Paulichi and Brite, to extend their lead to eight points. However, Nacional improved their offensive performance late in the period, narrowing the gap to a single point with the score at 38-37.
Following halftime, Mogi dominated defensively, stifling the Uruguayan attack while maintaining accuracy on perimeter shots. This control allowed them to build a lead of over ten points by the end of the third quarter, which concluded at 61-48. In the final quarter, both teams exchanged baskets, but Mogi successfully maintained their advantage to seal the 82-71 victory.
With this result, Independiente de Oliva from Argentina took third place in the group after defeating Jorge Guzmán from Ecuador earlier in the day. The tournament now awaits the conclusion of Group F, which features Flamengo, Brasília, Boca Juniors, and Paisas. The Final Four, comprising the semifinals and final, is scheduled for December 6 and 7 at a venue to be determined.
Mogi will now shift its focus back to the NBB, returning to the court on Wednesday against Basquete Cearense at the Hugo Ramos Gymnasium. The team currently holds second place in the league standings with three wins in four games.
Sources: Globo Esporte.