Pedrosa and Campos triumph in domestic dress rehearsal ahead of Nations Cup Final

This past weekend, Praia da Baía in Espinho was the focal point for national Beach Volleyball, hosting the 2nd stop of the Portuguese National Tour. The tournament served as a critical warm-up for the Beach Volleyball Nations Cup, whose final will take place at the same location from July 17 to 20. The competition saw three-time national champions João Pedrosa and Hugo Campos secure the men’s title, while Daniela Loureiro and Vanessa Paquete were the unexpected winners in the women’s division.

The full podium with all medallists from the event held this past weekend in Espinho.

In the men’s final, João Pedrosa and Hugo Campos demonstrated their status as favourites and their extensive experience, overcoming Francisco Pombeiro and Marcus Borlini 2-0 (21-19; 21-18) in a closely contested match. Brothers Gonçalo Sousa and Tomás Sousa claimed third place. Following their win at the first stop of the national circuit, they again showed consistency by defeating Tomás Natário and Gustavo Reis 2-0 (21-17; 25-23), maintaining their lead in the national ranking.

In the women’s final, Daniela Loureiro and Vanessa Paquete managed to defeat three-time national champions Beatriz Pinheiro and Inês Castro in a thrilling three-set encounter (17-21; 21-16; 15-9). The bronze medal was secured by the same pair who finished third at the first stop: Mariana Maia and Gabriela Coelho once again took third place, defeating Matilde Moreira and Nydia Saavedra 2-0 (21-15; 21-15).

The very same venue will be hosting the Nations Cup Final later this week.

The grand rehearsal for the Nations Cup

Hosting the second stop of the national tour at Praia da Baía was considered a prime opportunity for the local teams to get ready for the upcoming Nations Cup Final. By competing in a high-level tournament at the exact location, the pairs were able to familiarise themselves with the atmosphere, test the sand conditions, and refine their strategies for the crucial international competition.

The Nations Cup, which will feature the top teams in Europe, promises a high-calibre spectacle, with the anticipated participation of major superstars of the sport such as Norway’s Anders Mol and Christian Sørum.