Brazil cruise to semi-finals, China go down to Dutch at WGP Finals

Sheilla Castro remained a point collector for Brazil to be reckoned with as the veteran attacker top scored with 14 points for the team, all of them through sharp spikes. Natalia Goncharova led Russia with 12 point consisting of 10 kills from 31 attempts and two stuff blocks.

Both Brazil and Russia started up in full strength in the opening set to trade points from the beginning. However, the Brazil’s solid blocks from Thaisa Menezes and Natalia Pereira worked out pretty well as Brazil sealed the first-set win 25-22.

Holding a 1-0 advantage, Brazil continued their brilliant run in the second set, while the Russians became more prone with hasty unforced mistakes. Brazil took the completely one-sided set 25-10 to stretch it to 2-0.

Russia put their acts together in the third set, hoping to revive their fortunes. They chased from trailing 14-18 to narrow the margin 19-22. However, as Brazil were leading 24-21, Sheila Castrol overpowered the taller blockers with her exceptional spike to help the team win 25-21 and match.

Following the scintillating win over Russia, world No.3 Brazil, which the previous day outclassed hosts Thailand in straight sets, had six points from two straight wins to assure them a semi-final berth at the Bangkok Finals.

Russia on Friday play a must-win match against Thailand. A loss to the host side means a drop from the semi-finals and instead contest the fifth-sixth place playoff.

Meanwhile, the Netherlands came from behind to stun World Cup winners and world No.2 China in hard-fought five-set thriller 23-25 25-14 19-25 25-20 15-8 to keep their semi-finals hopes alive.

The Netherlands tried to make amends for their straight-set loss to the USA the previous day which  forced them to take on China with back against the wall. In determined efforts of playing a must-win match against the Chinese, the Dutch performed well beyond expectation to overpower the fired-up rivals in a gruelling five-setter.

Lonneke Sloetjes became a smashing machine for the Netherlands as she scored a team-high 31 points including 25 kills from 60 attempts. She also led in blocking with five. Gong Xianyu top scored with 21 points for China, leading all individual skills for the team with 15 points in attacks, three each in blocking and serving.

China and the Netherlands set up a tight contest in the first set. With the 199cm Yuan Xinyue and Liy Xiaotong taking excellent combination attacks, China took the hard-fought opener 25-23.

The Netherlands found their rhythm in the second set when they came up with impenetrable defence, allowing China scoring difficulties. The Dutch wrapped up the comfortable set 25-14 for a 1-1 tie.

The mighty China regained their form in the third set. With Hui Ruoqi and Zhang Xiaoya hitting like lightning, the Chinese snatched the set 25-19. However, Lonnie Sloetjes was the Netherlands’ comeback in the fourth set, which they won 25-20 and set up a tie-break against the Asian powerhouses.

In the decider, the Dutch fared much better, while the Chinese made several unforced mistakes. The Netherlands captured the set 15-8 and mach.

On Friday, China go up against world champions, world No.1 and title-holders USA at 3pm Bkk time. Hosts Thailand play a do-or-die match against Russia at 6pm, with the losers advancing to the semi-finals.