Timely plays from Olympic veterans Ricardo Lucarelli Souza and Lucas Saatkamp lifted Brazil to a quick 25-21, 21-15, 25-20 subduing of the Netherlands on Thursday in Week 3 of the Volleyball Nations League at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Souza and Saatkamp were hardly utilized during the 72-minute game, but when they were on the floor, their presence sparked the Brazilian spikers to big scoring runs that pushed them to their seventh overall win in 10 matches.
The win put Brazil at no. 3 in the standings, behind unbeaten Japan (9-0), and the United States (8-1), following their loss to the Japanese last Tuesday.
The 31-year-old Souza, a member of Brazil’s gold medal-winning squad in the 2016 Rio Olympics, put Brazil ahead, 10-3, in the second set after forcing the Dutchmen to an error with a placement shot and and ace.
The 37-year-old Saatkamp, Souza’s teammate in the Rio Olympiad, scored on two blocks off three attacks as he led in the first set to hand Brazil the match point, 25-21.
Their young teammate Henrique Honorato and Saatkamp led Brazil with 10 points apiece.
“Today’s game is very important because we did not play the other day. Tomorrow will be harder,” said Brazilian coach Renan Dal Zotto, who saw action in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Honorato joined hands with Judson da Cunha Jr. in the third set, and their blocks saw Brazil moving away, 15-6.
The loss was the Dutchmen’s fifth in 10 outings, putting their aspirations to reach the Grand Finals in doubt.
France and Serbia, with their 4-5 cards, remain in contention for the eighth and final seat to the championship round following the Netherlands’ loss to Brazil.