Press release

Brazil do just enough to sink Serbs

They had to fight bravely but the players of Brazil could eventually celebrate their third win in the Olympic tournament as they came from behind to eventually edge Serbia at the tie-break

London, Great Britain, August 3, 2012 – Brazil edged Serbia 3-2 in the last match of the day (22-25, 25-15, 20-25, 25-22, and 15-9) to improve its record to 3 wins and 1 loss so far in the tournament. Sidnei Dos Santos paced the triple world champions with 15 points, including 6 blocks, while Serbia’s charts were topped by Nikola Kovacevic with 16. Brazil stood out in blocking with and serving to re-start their chase for Olympic glory while Serbia dropped down to 3 losses and 1 win so far in the tournament. Having to play Russia in the last round of the prelims, the chances of the 2011 European champions to make it to the 1/4 finals look very slim, but they shall not be ruled out as on Saturday night they displayed once again all of their well-known fighting spirit.

The first set was close. Leandro Vissotto and Lucas Saatkamp hit kills for the South Americans, while Sasa Starovic, Marko Podrascanin and Dragan Stankovic spiked for Serbia. But with Nikola Kovacevic and his brother Uros also firing, Serbia took the first set 25-22.
Brazil edged ahead in the second set when Murilo Endres and Dante Amaral joined forces with Saatkamp and Vissotto to give Brazil a healthy lead, and they ran away with the set, 25-15.
The teams traded blows in the third set and tied 10-10. Aleksandar Atanasijevic performed well for Serbia, while Brazilian libero Sergio Santos pulled off some great defensive moves and Sidnei dos Santos Junior spiked well. But Marko Podrascanin’s blocking and spiking influence was telling as Serbia won the set 25-20.
In the fourth set Brazil started stronger, with Wallace de Souza playing a key role. Serbia spiked better, but also made more errors, and Wallace’s brilliance gave Brazil the set 25-22.
The final set mirrored the fourth, with Serbian errors and the spiking of Wallace and dos Santos the difference. Brazil suddenly looked a class above the Serbs, and took the set 15-9, and the match.

Brazil, who have three wins and one defeat, meet Germany in their final group match on Monday, while Serbia play Russia.

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