Brazil strengthened its bid for a spot in the Round of 16 of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship by defeating Czechia, 25-11, 25-22, 25-18, on Tuesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The win was a statement for the world No. 3 Brazilians, who had dropped a set against China in their opening game before eking out a 19-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-21 victory.
Brazil now sits at 2-0 with six points in Pool H but has yet to officially advance to the next round due to that dropped set against China.
A five-set match between Serbia and China later in the day could secure Brazil’s passage to the Round of 16. Otherwise, the Brazilians will need to claim at least two sets in their Thursday match against Serbia to qualify.
“I think we made a lot of mistakes against China, so the coach told us to play better and get back to our normal game because we are a strong team. After that, we came back and played better,” said Alan Souza, reflecting on the team’s mindset following their shaky start to the tournament.
Determined to prove themselves after the first-set loss to China, the South Americans opened their game against the Europeans with a massive statement, winning the first frame in a blowout, 25-11.
Souza led the team with 12 points, one of five Brazilians scoring at least eight points, showcasing the team’s depth during the 84-minute match.
Arthur Bento added 11 points, Judson Nunes contributed 10, and captain Ricardo Lucarelli posted nine. Flavio Gualberto dominated at the net with five blocks and three attacks for a total of eight points.
“I think the balance of the team in all skills is really important. We served well and handled all situations effectively. For me, the balance was the best thing today,” Brazil assistant coach Roberley Luiz Leonaldo said.
For Czechia, Lukas Vasina and Jan Galabov scored 14 and nine points, respectively, as the team fell to 1-1.
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