Corinthians rally in final quarter, beat Pinheiros and force decider | OneFootball

Corinthians are still alive in the quarterfinals of the Paulista Basketball Championship. On the morning of this Sunday (6), Timão hosted Pinheiros at Ginásio Wlamir Marques and won 96-91, leveling the series after being beaten in the first matchup.

The team coached by Jece Leite started better, opened up a ten-point lead, and went into halftime ahead 48-42. The picture changed in the third quarter, when Pinheiros grew into the game, especially with long-range shooting, and turned it around. Under pressure from the possibility of elimination, Corinthians responded with an excellent final quarter and regained control of the scoreboard.

Photo: Beto Miller/Agência Corinthians

The standout performer for Alvinegro was Victão, who posted a double-double of 32 points and ten rebounds. The center took over in the decisive minutes and helped Timão force a third game.

Corinthians lineup

Jece Leite started the game with Leal, Victão, Betinho, Gemadinha, and Elinho. The bench options were Tico Farias, Kaique, Lucas Cardoso, Matheus, Filipe, André, and Miguel.

Pinheiros lineup

On the other side, coach Bruno Porto put Pinheiros on the court with: Lucca Boracina, Felipe Gregate, Felipe Vezaro, Grigor Vieira, and Murilo Souza.

First quarter

Corinthians opened the scoring with Leal, who made two points but missed the additional free throw. Shortly after, Victão knocked down a three-pointer to give Timão a 5-0 lead.

Pinheiros responded through Murilo at the free-throw line and Grigor, who brought the visitors closer on the scoreboard. Then Murilo finished an alley-oop and put the away team ahead for the first time, 6-5.

Corinthians regained the lead with a nice play by Elinho. The point guard shook off his defender and hit a three to make it 8-6. Gemadinha added two more points, but Grigor answered immediately from beyond the arc.

Pinheiros took the lead again through Murilo before Corinthians picked up the pace once more. Leal put Timão back in front and Gemadinha hit two straight threes, reaching eight points in the game and forcing Bruno Porto to call a timeout.

In the final minutes of the period, Jece Leite sent on Lucas Cardoso and Kaique. The teams traded possessions from there, but Corinthians managed the lead and ended the first ten minutes ahead 25-17.

Second quarter

The intense pace remained at the start of the second period. Corinthians and Pinheiros scored seven points apiece in the opening minutes, with Betinho and Victão contributing offensively for Alvinegro, while Gregate and Grigor answered for the visitors.

With Timão still eight points ahead at 32-24, Jece Leite called a timeout to adjust his team. Gregate hit a three and cut the gap, but Corinthians answered by making two free throws.

After a more scrappy stretch marked by fouls and mistakes, both teams found offensive openings again. Victão was fouled after a stoppage and made both free throws, stretching Corinthians’ lead to ten points at 44-34.

Pinheiros, however, responded late in the quarter. Lucca Boracina hit a shot from outside and helped cut the deficit to just four points. Jece Leite stopped the game again.

Corinthians still managed to go back up by eight with Victão at the free-throw line, but Pinheiros scored on the final possession. Timão went into halftime leading 48-42.

During the first half of the game, Alvinegro also shot well from the perimeter, making 50% of their three-point attempts.

Third quarter

After the break, the picture began to change. Gregate opened the period by scoring for Pinheiros, and Victão answered right away. Leal also got back on the scoresheet after staying on the bench during the second quarter.

With seven minutes left, Corinthians still controlled the scoreboard at 54-48. From that point on, however, Alvinegro’s offensive mistakes increased and Pinheiros started to cut into the lead.

The visitors began shooting extremely well from long range. Gregate made a three-pointer that put Pinheiros back in front, something that had not happened since the opening minutes of the game.

With a little over two minutes remaining, Corinthians were trailing 62-58. Pinheiros added another five points and opened up a seven-point lead. Timão managed to reduce the damage before the end, but lost the third-quarter stretch 25-14.

As a result, the away team entered the final period in front and left Corinthians needing a comeback to avoid elimination.

Final quarter

Timão came back for the decisive ten minutes with a different attitude. Leal and Elinho combined for three points in the opening possessions and sparked Alvinegro’s comeback.

Next, Betinho beat his defender and tied the game at 68-68. With Corinthians growing into the game, Bruno Porto called a timeout with around seven minutes left.

The stoppage did not interrupt Corinthians’ momentum. Victão made a free throw and then finished a dunk to put the home team back in front.

With just over six minutes on the clock, the run was 11-1 for Corinthians, who moved ahead 73-68. Pinheiros cut the gap, but Tico Farias answered with a two-point basket plus the foul.

The duel became more balanced over the next possessions. Victão kept producing near the paint, while Pinheiros tried to stay in the game. With the visitors piling up team fouls, Corinthians also found important points at the free-throw line.

Betinho showed up again on offense and extended the lead to eight. Lucca Boracina answered on his own and made it 82-76.

In the final minutes, Victão fully took center stage. The center scored six straight points, with two dunks and another two-point basket, and kept Corinthians in front.

Pinheiros still tried to respond through Lucca Boracina, especially from three-point range, but Timão managed the scoreboard and sealed the 96-91 victory.

Next game

The win kept Corinthians from being eliminated and left the quarterfinal series tied at 1-1. As the matchup is a best-of-three series, the spot will be decided in the third game.

Corinthians and Pinheiros will face each other again this Tuesday (8) at 8 p.m. (Brasília time) at Ginásio Wlamir Marques. This time, there is no room for recovery: the winner will advance to the Paulista Basketball Championship semifinal.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.