BEHIND outside hitter Nuno Marques, Portugal needed five sets to get past Colombia, 23-25, 21-25, 25-20, 25-21, 15-11, on Wednesday, to keep its hopes alive in advancing to the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship’s Round of 16.
Marques sizzled with 19 points, off 13 kills, four blocks, and two aces for the Portuguese side, with their 1-1 win-loss record in Pool D allowing them to catch up with Cuba in second spot.
“We knew that we needed to win to have a chance of advancing, and we got nervous at the start of the match,” said skipper Jose Pinto, who came up 17 points.
Middle blockers Kelton Tavares and Filip Cveticanin tallied 12 points each for Portugal, whose record with Cuba puts them behind solo leader Team USA, which already qualified to the quarterfinal round.
Portugal’s fate now rests on Cuba’s encounter with Team USA, which is unbeaten in two games.
Earlier, Belgium upset reigning world champion Italy, 25-23, 25-20, 22-25, 21-25, 15-13, to post win no. 2 in pool F at the Araneta Coliseum.
Ferre Reggers produced an impressive 31 points, behind 27 kills, two blocks and two aces, as the Belgians reached the Round of 16.
Italy and Ukraine, which share the same 1-1 card, clash at 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, with the winner reaching the quarterfinals.
Qatar turned back Romania, 20-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-22, in Pool B to settle for third with its 1-2 slate. Peter Atencio
Youssef Oughlaf made 15 points for the Qataris, while teammate Belal Nabel Abunabot had 13. Peter Atencio
