Vasco da Gama lost at home to Bauru in the NBB quarter-finals (Photo: Maurício Almeida/Vasco da Gama)
R10 Score Vasco da Gama and Bauru Basket began their duel this Saturday (4) for a place in the semifinals of the Novo Basquete Brasil 2023/24 (NBB). In the first match of the series, at the São Januário gymnasium, the Cruzmaltino club started poorly, but managed to react twice to win 84 to 78 in extra time. The quarter-final clashes of the national competition are the best of five games and the second meeting between the teams is scheduled for Tuesday (7), at 7:30 pm, at Panela de Pressão.
With 29 points, winger/pivot Rafael Paulichi was Vasco’s scorer and the scorer of the match. And four more Vasco athletes reached double digits in scoring: point guards Eugeniusz (18) and Cauê (14) and winger Marquinhos (13). On Bauru’s side, the highest scorer was guard Brite, with 20, followed by winger Alex, 19, and pivot Jeremy, who scored a double-double: 14 points and ten rebounds. In extra time, Rafael Paulichi was decisive and scored six of the home team’s 12 points: 12 to 6.
Oscillations in the first half
Two athletes started off unbalanced for Bauru in the NBB. Americans Brite and Jemery scored 19 of the visitors’ 25 points in the first quarter. Brite attempted ten shots and converted them all, leaving the court with ten points. Jeremy contributed nine. The Bauru team dominated in rebounds (15 to 5) and assists (5 to 2). Vasco did not work defensively, being unable to neutralize their rival’s volume. Bauru ahead by ten points: 25 to 15.
Vasco grew in the second period and won 19 to 13. The Cruzmaltino team reacted and reduced the difference with the improvement in defense and the offensive emergence of Eugeniusz, with nine hits. On Bauru’s side, only winger Alex did well, with the same number of points as the Vasco player. In addition to the defensive system, the home team evolved in attack, with more volume and efficiency in two-point shots and free throws. Despite this, the visitors still went into the break leading: 38 to 34.
Supported by their fans, Vasco started the second half of the game with the most aggressive and effective NBB, taking the lead for the first time after Rafael Paulichi’s three ball: 41 to 40. However, Bauru was not shaken and resumed the lead with a tray from Brite in a counterattack: 51 to 50. The home team lost two more balls in the attack and Brite and Alex scored in a counterattack: 55 to 50. The visitors scored 19 to 16 in the third period and the advantage it was at seven points: 57 to 50.
Behind on the scoreboard, Vasco needed to show recovery power once again and they did so. Two characters were important for the Cruzmaltino team in the fourth quarter: Rafael Paulichi and point guard Cauê. The first was the basket in the decisive ten minutes, with 11 of the home team’s 22 points. The second was responsible for the most important ball, as he hit a three-pointer to tie the match at 72-72 with 8 seconds left, forcing extra time.
Head-to-head
This Saturday’s game (4) between Vasco and Bauru was the third between the two teams in the NBB 2023/24. The other two meetings were in the classification phase, with victories for the Cruzmaltino team at home and as a visitor. In the 1st round, in Rio de Janeiro, the team led by Léo Figueiró won 67 to 58. On that occasion, Vasco’s Rafael Paulichi was the scorer of the game with 23 points. In the return, at the Panela de Pressão gym, the Bauru team lost 81 to 76. Winger Marquinhos led the score with 24.
Campaign at NBB
Returning to the national basketball elite, Vasco has been having a campaign well above expectations. The Cruzmaltino team ended the regular season in fourth place. In 36 games, there were only 12 defeats. Then, in the playoffs debut, they easily passed Pinheiros after winning both matches with some comfort.
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Bauru Basket ended the regular season right after Vasco, in fifth place, with the same number of wins and points. Furthermore, the teams fought hard for fourth place in the last rounds, but the Cariocas came out on top in the end based on the tiebreaker criteria. In the round of 16, Dragão didn’t give Pato Basquete a chance and dispatched the Paraná team in two games.
Founder and content director of Olimpíada Todo Dia
