Pinheiros Basquete claims unbeaten Interligas U22 title with win over La Union
Pinheiros Basquete lifted the Interligas U22 trophy on Sunday (12) in São Paulo. In the final, the Azul e Preto defeated La Union 88-72 at Sesi Vila Leopoldina gym, completing the tournament with a perfect record. Lucca Boracina, the team’s playmaker and tournament MVP, led the way with 21 points in the final and 53 points across three games.
How the final against La Union unfolded
Pinheiros Basquete started strong. Within five minutes, they opened an 8-0 lead and maintained the advantage in the first quarter, finishing it 27-22. But La Union fought back, tying the game at 29-29 and even taking a 29-31 lead. The tide turned when Lucca Boracina and Lucas Thor returned to the floor. Despite a negative 15-18 run in the second quarter, Pinheiros Basquete went into halftime ahead 45-37.
Defensive lapses showed in the second half. The Argentine side tied the game again at 57-57 in the third quarter after Pinheiros had opened a 12-point lead. In the fourth quarter, composure arrived with a six-point burst from Lucca Boracina. In just over two minutes, Pinheiros Basquete stretched the lead to 73-57 and managed the advantage all the way to the final whistle: 88-72.
Rebounding dominance and team contributions
Pinheiros Basquete dominated the boards. They pulled down 54 rebounds overall, including 21 offensive boards, compared to La Union’s 30 total rebounds — with only five coming on the offensive glass. The team also shared the ball well: Caldeira logged eight assists, while Lucca Boracina finished with four assists to go with his 21 points.
Beyond Lucca (21 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists) and Caldeira (7 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds), Pinheiros Basquete’s scoring in the final came from Thor (14 points), Grigor (9 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists), Brayan Boff (15 points, 11 rebounds) and Josuel (6 points, 1 rebound).
Pedro Henrique Araújo (Petruko) celebrates the title
Head coach Pedro Henrique Araújo, nicknamed Petruko, led the team alongside assistant Thomas Poles. After the final whistle, he praised the quality of opponents and the tournament’s structure. “First, I want to thank the League for putting on a high-level championship. We faced strong teams from Argentina and Brazil, like Franca. It was very good for the boys,” he said.
Petruko also highlighted the collective effort. “My happiness is huge seeing what we trained come to life. Seeing the boys celebrating with friends and family after the hard work they put in is rewarding. This is a win thanks to the work we do at the Club.”
Lucca Boracina ends the tournament as MVP
Lucca Boracina not only earned Final MVP honors but also the tournament MVP award, finishing with 53 points over three games. The Pinheiros Basquete playmaker topped the scoring charts with an average of 17.6 points per game. “This is a win thanks to the work we do at the Club. When it mattered, I delivered,” he said.
The Interligas U22 title marks the debut of Pinheiros Basquete’s new generation in the season. With the trophy in hand, the team now boasts two titles in the competition — the first came in the 2023 season, when Adyel Borges was named Final MVP.