Olympic medalists Bruno Rezende and Bruno Lima led Vôlei Renata Campinas to an incredible victory in the Brazilian Men’s Superliga on Saturday, helping their team take down Sada Cruzeiro, the last undefeated team in the country’s national league.
Playing on the road, at the Riacho Arena, in Contagem, Campinas were down two sets, but fought their way back into the match, producing a massive comeback to win 3-2 (21-25, 18-25, 25-22, 25-15, 16-14).
Select Brazilian Men’s and Women’s Superliga matches are available live for VBTV subscribers located in Brazil.
Despite their first upset in the Superliga, Sada Cruzeiro continue at the top of the standings with 20 points (seven wins, one loss), three ahead of second-placed Itambé Minas. Campinas remain in fourth place, but with the two points earned got to 13 (five wins, two losses), approaching the top teams in the Superliga.
While veteran setter Bruno paved the way for Campinas’ comeback with a solid performance, the 28-year-old Lima was the team’s top scorer with 21 points (16 kills, four blocks, one ace). Other standouts were Brazilian national team outside hitter Adriano Xavier, who tallied 18 points (13 kills, three aces, two blocks), and middle blocker Leonardo ‘Léo’ Andrade, who produced 11 with a match-high six blocks, four kills and one ace and was awarded as the Player of the Match.
“We managed to block so well because we prepared for it,” he said. “We studied their game a lot and knew of every possibility they had, so credits to our statisticians, who did a great job. Sada Cruzeiro were the last undefeated team in the Superliga, but the truth is that every match here is difficult, it doesn’t matter if it’s the first or the last-placed team.”
