Bangkok, Thailand, August 3, 2021 – Fired-up Brazil stormed into the semifinals of the Tokyo 2020 volleyball tournament after an exceptional straight-set win against determined Japan in their 150-minute quarterfinal clash at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan on Tuesday.
The Brazilians, who had major titles to their name including the Rio Olympic Games, the 2021 FIVB Volleyball Nations League in Rimini, Italy and 2019 World Cup, showcased their resilience through spectacular attacks from Yoandy Leal Hidalgo punctuated by scintillating blocks from Wallace De Souza to overpower the Asian powerhouses in thrilling three-setter 25-20, 25-22, 25-20 for a spot in the semifinals.
Brazil, current world No.1, are due to test their mettle against Russia, which pulled off a hard-fought three-set thriller 25-21, 30-28, 25-22 against Canada in the other quarterfinal match earlier, in the do-or-die semifinal clash on Thursday, August 5.
Against hosts Japan, which stunned Asian champions Iran 3-2 in their hotly-anticipated preliminary Pool A encounter on Sunday, Brazil remained strong offensively with the likes of Wallace De Souza, Luiz De Souza Mauricio, 209cm Lucas Saatkamp and Ricardo Lucarelli Souza, all of them competed in the Brazil’s gold-winning squad in the 2016 Rio Games, and powerful Yoandy Leal Hidalgo, the 32-year-old Cuban-born wing spiker, while Japan were spearheaded by the three musketeers, Yuki Ishikawa, left-hander Yuji Nishida and emerging star Takahashi Ran.
In the first set, Brazil mixed the offensive mobilities of Leal’s exceptional attacks with Lucas’ thundering fast spikes and Wallace’s solid blocks to lead with 3-point clear at 18-15. Nishida and Ishikawa took turns coming up with quick and powerful cross-court attacks to help Japan narrow the margin at 20-24, but the hosts’ intention to make a comeback was in vain when a powerful jump serve from Ishikawa went wide. Brazil grabbed the first set 25-20.
Conceding one set, Japan hit back bravely in the second set, with Nishida and Ishikawa unleashing on several powerful blows to help their team gain an upper hand with 4-point advantage at 12-8. However, the hosts’ joy was short-lived when the Brazilians came roaring back to level at 17-all and stormed on to surge ahead the spirited rivals 24-20. Japan saved two set points including one from Ishikawa’s electric spike before Wallace nailed a crucial attack for the Brazil’s hard-fought set 25-22.
In the third set, Brazil still proved stronger in attacks and blocks as despite battling hard, Japan were never able to close the gap as the Brazilians came through to take the third set 25-20 and wrap up an impressive victory.
It was the Brazil’s two wins against Japan within one month as on July 4, the Brazilians also captured a convincing straight-set victory over the Japanese side in the VNL in Rimini, Italy.
Yoandy Leal Hidalgo chipped in with 16 points including 15 attacks for Brazil, while Wallace De Souza and Lucarelli Souza Ricardo kept good company to add 13 and 12 points respectively. Yuki Ishikawa led Japan with 17 points and Yuji Nishida added 13.
Japan bowed out of the Tokyo 2020, while Brazil will go up against Russia in the Thursday’s semifinals.
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