World No. 1 Poland clobbered Brazil, 25-23, 22-25, 25-21, 25-21, to break free from a crowded middle pack in the crucial Week 3 of the Volleyball Nations League men’s tournament yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Wilfredo Leon Venero spearheaded Poland’s supremacy over the 2016 Olympic and 2021 VNL champion Brazil with 22 points on 20 hits, a block and an ace.
The Poles claimed solo third spot with an 8-2 win-loss record behind leaders Japan and the United States.
Bartosz Bednorz added 11 points as 2021 VNL MVP Bartosz Kurek had 10 with Marcin Janusz dishing out 17 sets for outright finalist Poland, which will host the 8-team finale on 19 July to 24 in Gdansk City.
“We prepare for these kinds of games. Brazil is a very strong team so we knew from the beginning that it would be a tough game,” Venero said.
Brazil, despite the 17 points of Alan Souza and 14 of Ricardo Lucarelli, slid to a 7-4 slate at No. 6.
