The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL team member David Nesbitt and his Regates de Flamengo Basketball Club forced a fifth and deciding game in Brazil’s Novo Basquete Brasil (NBB) Finals.

Flamengo defeated Sesi Franca BC 76-62 in the CAIXA Finals to stay alive. Game five takes place June 8 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Flamengo took game one at home 82-68 before Franca evened the series and protected their home court with an 88-79 win. Franca went ahead to take a 2-1 lead with a 77-71 win before Flamengo tied the series.

Flamengo began the playoffs with a three-game sweep over Corinthians. Nesbitt averaged 11.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game in the series, highlighted by a 22-point, four rebound performance in the series opener.

They went on to defeat Botafogo FR 3-1 in the semi-finals. Nesbitt averaged eight points per game in the series.

In 37 games with the club this season, Nesbitt has averaged 7.4 points and 4.1 rebounds in just over 17 minutes per game. The veteran forward shot 56 per cent from the field, 33 per cent from three-point range and 83 per cent from the free throw line.

Nesbitt looks to capture his second consecutive NBB title after winning the the championship with Paulistano Sao Paolo last season. He averaged 5.8 points and 3.8 rebounds for the series in a 3-1 over Mogi.

The NBB is the Brazilian premier professional men’s basketball league.

Prior to Brazil, Nesbitt played for Ciclista Olimpico de La Banda in the Argentinian LigaA. In 32 games with the club, he averaged 9.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.

Earlier in the season, he was also a key component for Goes Montevideo in Uruguay’s (LUB). In 19 games he averaged 15.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.8 steals per game.

Nesbitt spent the previous season in the Iraqi Superleague with Al Mina. He helped them to win the regular season and make it to the final.

Nesbitt was also voted to Asia-Basket.com’s Iraqi League All-Imports Team and All-Second Team. He has also played professionally in Kazakhstan for Kaspiy Aktau.

Most recently, he participated with the men’s national team at the FIBA World Cup Americas Qualifiers where he averaged 6.1 points and 5.8 rebounds through the first two windows.

Should Nesbitt remain with Flamengo next season, he will have an opportunity to go against G-League competition in the offseason. The club will participate in the NBA G-League Challenge, presented by Antel, a friendly tournament that will take place between September 18 and 22 at Antel Arena in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Alongside Flamengo, teams from San Lorenzo (Argentina), Bayern Munich (Germany), Uruguay National Team and one NBA G League Team will also participate in the tournament, which is organised by the NBA G-League in partnership with Antel, a leading telecommunications company in Uruguay.

“It is very important for Flamengo to start the season with games against top teams from a technical point of view. It is a great honour to receive an invitation from the NBA and to strengthen our role as protagonists of the sport in our country is very important,” said Delano Franco, vice president of Olympic sports at Flamengo.

“It will be another great opportunity for the internationalisation of the Flamengo brand, as it was in the other five times we faced the NBA teams in the preseason of the best league in the world. It’s a privilege for our athletes and a great opportunity to be around our fans around the world.”