Darlan Souza, one of 12 Brazilian players preparing for the Paris Olympics, struck with 26 points for fourth seed Brazil as it repulsed the Netherlands, 24-26, 25-23, 31-29, 25-20, Tuesday night in the Volleyball Nations League Men’s Pools Week 3 Action at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The 6’4 Souza, playing an opposite hitter, made his imposing presence felt in the second set as the Brazilians bounced back from a first-set loss to even the count at 1-all.
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Teammates Lucas Saatkamp and Flavio Resende came forward in the last two sets to help the Brazilian side keep the Dutchmen at bay in their two hour and 15 minute-long clash.
“It was a good game. We managed to keep our pace,” said Souza.
With Saatkamp firing 12 points, the Brazilians picked up their sixth triumph in nine games.
This allowed the Brazilians to improve in sixth place, staying in contention to become one of eight contenders for a slot in the Volleyball Nations League Finals, set in the city of Łódź in Poland from June 27 to 30.
Saatkamp scored on three of four hits he made in the third set during a 5-1 blast that handed the Brazilians a 15-11 edge.
Returning star Abdel Aziz Nimir powered the Dutch spikers with 38 points, pouring in 12 as they kept it closeand took the third, 31-29.
The Dutch spikers fell behind in the standings at 3-6.
Souza’s jump spike gave the match point, 25-20, and the win for the Brazilians in the final set, moments after Nimir’s attack kept the Dutch close.
