Rosarito, Mexico - Elite 16 - Beach Pro Tour 2022 - News

07_BPT Rosarito - Men Main draw ITAvsBRA

Adrian Carambula

Adrian Carambula and Enrico Rossi had a great start in Rosarito, but after the leading Italian pair had to overcome some health difficulties during the pre-season, they are “just happy to have the opportunity to compete.”

Carambula and Rossi made their Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour debut at the Elite 16 tournament in Mexico. On Thursday, the sixth-seeded Italians produced an emphatic 2-0 (21-14, 21-14) shutout of USA’s Chaim Schalk and Theodore Brunner to get their Pool C campaign underway.

“Our first match is out of the way and it went pretty smooth,” Carambula told Volleyball World after that game. “We had a bit of a rough off-season, had to overcome a lot, so at this point we are just happy to have the opportunity to compete. We were able to get off to a quick start against USA and we were able to maintain our pressure throughout the whole match. It was a very important match, because with the new format it’s key to be able to start strong in these tournaments and not have to play catch up. And only the top two teams from the pool advance...”

Just ahead of their previous major tournament, October’s FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Finals in Cagliari, Carambula and Rossi finalised their agreement with Ricardo Santos, and as of the beginning of this year, the legendary Brazilian player has taken on the job of coaching the Italian duo. So Thursday’s game was special for him as well as it was his international debut as a coach.

“Super happy for the whole team!” exclaimed Carambula. “It was Ricardo’s first win as an international coach. With his winning record as a player, it was only fair that he started off on the winning side. After getting to know him for a few months, I knew it was going to be hard for him to sit on the sidelines… But he’s doing a great job! Maybe a bit more relaxed than what I was expecting...”

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