On the assault: Sanchez broke by way of the Defenders wall time and time once more.
| Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN
Brazil’s Itambe Minas proved too good for Ahmedabad Defenders because it ran out a 25-22, 25-23, 25-19 winner in a Pool-A match on the opening day of the FIVB males’s Volleyball Club World Championships on the Koramangala Indoor Stadium right here on Wednesday. The Indian franchise matched Minas for a very good a part of two units, however misplaced steam within the third.
It was evident from the beginning that the competition rested on how a lot attacking house the guests could be allowed. The trio of Michael Sanchez, Paulo Silva and Marcus Coelho led the cost with some wonderful spiking. But Minas let Defenders keep inside touching distance within the opening two units by committing a slew of errors, together with many on serve.
However, Minas was head and shoulders above Defenders within the third. Cuban Sanchez was the top-scorer, totalling 20 factors within the match (17 assaults, 2 blocks and 1 serve), and was ably assisted by Silva (10 pts) and Coelho (9). For Defenders, Amit Balwan Singh was the very best, scoring 13 factors in all.
In the day’s first tie, Japan’s Suntory Sunbirds defeated Turkish facet Halkbank Spor Kulubu 25-23, 25-23, 25-16.
The outcomes: Suntory Sunbirds bt Halkbank Spor Kulubu 25-23, 25-23, 25-16. Itambe Minas bt Ahmedabad Defenders 25-22, 25-23, 25-19.
