Brazil-Netherlands
Monique Marine Pavao scored 17 points for Brazil, Adenízia Silva came in as a close second top scorer with 16 points.
Brazil were stunned early on by the Dutch whose solid blocking built a steady lead mid-way through and the eventual take over of the first set 18-25. Brazil eventually overcame the next three sets but were heavily challenged by the hounding offensive knack of the Dutch team.
Adenízia, Josefa Fabiola Sousa and Sheilla Castro bannered Brazil’s offence barely escaping a tough 25-23 Dutch challenge in the second set. Brazil needed extra points and Fernanda Garay’s heroics to close the third set 28-26 against Netherlands.
The Dutch team continued to open every set well and built a comfortable advantage but failed on equalising Brazil’s intensity to cap off the fourth set 25-22.
Despite the victory, coach José Roberto Guimarães (Zé Roberto) praised the performance of the Dutch team.
“The Netherlands played very well in the first set,” Zé Roberto said. “They attacked and drew efficiently. We lost a lot of counter-attacks. These friendly matches sets the proper way forward for our future.”
The succeeding friendly matches are scheduled on Friday, July 12, at the Ginásio do Sesi in Maceió, Alagoas; and on Sunday, July 14, at the Ginásio Nélio Dias in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte.
To read more news from this competition click on Brazil.
