The men`s semifinals of the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour`s Joao Pessoa Elite tournament are set, featuring a dynamic mix of French qualifiers, two formidable Dutch pairings, and Brazil`s home favorites. These thrilling matchups will determine who competes in Sunday`s final.
One highly anticipated semifinal will see the Dutch team of Stefan Boermans and Yorick de Groot battle against Brazilian stars Evandro Oliveira and Arthur Mariano Lanci. In the other semifinal clash, French qualifiers Remi Bassereau and Calvin Aye will face off against another strong Dutch duo, Steven van de Velde and Alexander Brouwer.
Path to the Semifinals: French Qualifiers` Impressive Run
France`s Remi Bassereau and Calvin Aye have had an impressive run, starting their journey from the qualification rounds and fighting their way to the semifinals. Their path included a hard-fought straight-set victory, 2-0 (21-17, 23-21), over the second-seeded Dutch team of Boermans and De Groot in the Round of 12. Bassereau notably delivered a fantastic 10 kill blocks and a match-high 22 points in that game. Continuing their momentum, the French pair secured a 2-1 (21-19, 18-21, 15-10) quarterfinal win against Austrian qualifiers Timo Hammarberg and Tim Berger. The Austrians had earlier caused an upset themselves, eliminating reigning Olympic champions David Åhman and Jonatan Hellvig of Sweden in a tight 2-0 (21-16, 32-30) Round of 12 contest.
Match Highlights: Hammarberg/Berger T. vs. Bassereau/Aye, C.
Dutch Teams Demonstrate Resilience and Power
Stefan Boermans and Yorick de Groot, despite an earlier loss in the Round of 12, made a spectacular comeback to reach the quarterfinals. There, they achieved a significant upset, defeating the world`s number one team, top-seeded Norwegians Anders Mol and Christian Sørum, in a dominant 2-0 (22-20, 21-16) performance. Mol was the top scorer with 23 points, including six blocks and four aces, while De Groot led his team with 20 points and Boermans contributed 15, including five blocks.
Quarter Final Highlights: Mol, A./Sørum, C. vs. Boermans/de Groot
The Dutch duo Steven van de Velde and Alexander Brouwer, seeded eighth, began their Friday with a clean 2-0 (21-16, 21-15) sweep against French pair Teo Rotar and Arnaud Gauthier-Rat. They continued their strong performance in the quarterfinals, securing another 2-0 (21-19, 21-15) victory against Pedrosa and Campos, who had advanced despite their earlier loss. Van de Velde was a defensive force with seven kill blocks, contributing 18 points in total, while Brouwer added 14 points, including four aces.
Quarter Final Highlights: van de Velde/Brouwer vs. Pedrosa/Campos
Brazilian Favorites Shine on Home Sand
The Brazilian pair of Evandro Oliveira and Arthur Mariano Lanci, seeded sixth and playing on home sand, also showcased their strength. They started their elimination phase with a 2-0 (21-19, 21-15) win over Portuguese qualifiers Joao Pedrosa and Hugo Campos in the Round of 12. In an all-Brazilian quarterfinal, Evandro and Arthur Lanci delivered an emphatic 2-0 (21-16, 21-12) sweep against fellow qualifiers Vinicius Freitas and Heitor Barbosa. Arthur Lanci was the standout performer with a match-high 18 points, including five aces, supported by Evandro`s 12 points, which featured three aces and three kill blocks.
Match Highlights: Evandro/Arthur vs. Vinicius/Heitor
Upcoming Medal Matches
The medal matches are scheduled for Sunday. The match for third place will commence at 15:00 local time (18:00 UTC), followed by the grand final showdown at 17:00 local time (20:00 UTC).
Oliver Wrenwick