World No. 4 Brazil drew strength from Felipe Roque as it swept China, 25-19, 25-17, 25-17, in Week 3 of the men’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) on Saturday, July 8, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Roque fired 17 points on 12 attacks, four blocks and an ace as the Brazilians wrapped up their campaign in the Philippine leg with an 8-4 card for a spot in the finals phase in Poland set July 19 to 24. Otavio Rodrigues also shone for Brazil with 11 points, even as Ricardo Souza and Adriano Fernandes helped with combined 15 points. The Brazilians were on point from the start until endgame despite some moments of aggression from the Chinese side. Brazil had split results in its Week 3 campaign as it fell to Italy on Tuesday, July 4 before bouncing back against the Netherlands two days later. The Brazilians couldn’t stage an upset over world No. 1 Poland a day prior. "The standings are very close, so each win is important for the team and also for the world rankings,” said Roque. Bin Wang was the lone double-digit scorer for China with 11 points as Zhang was limited to nine points in the losing affair. China remained at the bottom seed with an 2-9 slate as it will miss out on the quarterfinals action and become relegated to the FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup (VCC).
*Brazil's Felipe Roque scores a spike against China's Zhang Jingyin during their VNL game Saturday. (Volleyball World)
*Roque fired 17 points on 12 attacks, four blocks and an ace as the Brazilians wrapped up their campaign in the Philippine leg with an 8-4 card for a spot in the finals phase in Poland set July 19 to 24. Otavio Rodrigues also shone for Brazil with 11 points, even as Ricardo Souza and Adriano Fernandes helped with combined 15 points. The Brazilians were on point from the start until endgame despite some moments of aggression from the Chinese side. Brazil had split results in its Week 3 campaign as it fell to Italy on Tuesday, July 4 before bouncing back against the Netherlands two days later. The Brazilians couldn’t stage an upset over world No. 1 Poland a day prior. "The standings are very close, so each win is important for the team and also for the world rankings,” said Roque. Bin Wang was the lone double-digit scorer for China with 11 points as Zhang was limited to nine points in the losing affair. China remained at the bottom seed with an 2-9 slate as it will miss out on the quarterfinals action and become relegated to the FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup (VCC).