In an electrifying showdown at the FIVB Men's Volleyball Nations League Finals in Ningbo, situated in the eastern part of the Chinese mainland, Brazil pulled off a stunning comeback to secure a spot in the semifinals. After the hosts took a razor-thin win in the opening set by 31-29, the Brazilians recharged and dominated the rest of the match.
Brazil, one of the championship favorites with an impressive 11-1 record from the preliminary rounds—and having swept China 3-0 in the Chicago leg last June—turned the tide with successive set wins: 25-19, 25-16, and 25-21. Alan Souza led the charge with a match-high 26 points, while China’s Wen Zihua put up 15 points and delivered key blocks.
China coach Vital Heynen, while proud of the relentless effort his team put in, acknowledged the gap in performance. He admitted, "The only problem is we don't know how to win. Brazil is many steps ahead of us." Despite the loss, Heynen remained optimistic about the team’s future, especially with the World Championship set to kick off in the Philippines on September 12.
Other quarterfinals added to the excitement with Italy defeating Cuba 3-1, setting the stage for more thrilling matchups as the tournament advances. It was a rollercoaster of a game that kept fans on the edge of their seats 🏐🔥!
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Brazil rally to beat China, advance to Men's VNL Finals semifinals
cgtn.com
