Two Brazilian Teams Sweep Way to Porec Men’s Semifinals

2017 FIVB WORLD TOUR – POREC MAJOR

• June 26 to July 2
• Five-Star Event
• Schedule

Two Brazilian teams will vie for the Porec Five-Star Title alongside veteran Italian side Paolo Nicolai and Danielle Lupo and Russian newcomers Oleg Stoyanoskiy and Artem Yarzutkin as the four teams won in Saturday’s quarterfinals to advance to Sunday’s semifinals.

Fifth-seeded Alison Cerutti/Bruno Oscar Schmidt are the favorites from Brazil, while ninth-seeded qualifiers Pedro Solberg and Guto Albrecht Carvalhaes also in the running.

Stoyanoskiy/Yarzutkin edged Poland’s Maciej Rudol and Jakub Sazlankiwicz in three sets, 21-17, 19-21, 17-15, after advancing through round two via forfeit by the Netherlands’ Alexander Brouwer/Robert Meeuwsen.

Nicolai/Lupo also advanced through a three-set affair, downing Americans Taylor Crabb and Jacob Gibb, 21-17, 17-21, 15-11. In Round 2, the team topped Latvia’s Janis Smedins/Aleksandrs Samoilovs in three sets 21-12, 14-21, 15-11.

The Brazilians made quick work of their foes in both rounds two and three.

Alison/Bruno Schmidt topped No. 16 seeded  Theo Brunner and Casey Patterson of the United States 21-12, 21-19 in the quarterfinals after advancing past Spain’s Pablo Herrera/Adrian Gavira 21-17, 34-32, the No. 10 seed, earlier in the day.

Pedro Solberg/Guto moved past Austria’s Clemens Doppler and Alexander Horst 21-15, 21-16 into the semis after downing Americans Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena, the No. 3 seed, 21-10, 21-17 in Round 2.

Sunday’s semifinals have the Brazilians on opposite sides of the bracket. Alison/Bruno Schmidt will face Nicolai/Lupo in a rematch of a Friday morning pool play match, which went the way of the Italians. Alison/Bruno had to win their way back through three contenders matches to make the semifinals. The two teams have deep history, having played 10 previous times in FIVB events, with the Brazilians taking six.

Pedro Solberg/Guto, who are making their first FIVB semifinal appearance, will take on the Russians, Stoyanovskiy/Yazutkin, who are playing in their third World Tour semifinal.