DOWN THE LINE | France strengthens VNL Final 8 hold with crucial win over Brazil

France escaped over Brazil in another five-set thriller. Jade Moya
By John Rhey Piamonte

PASAY—France banked on to squeak past Brazil in a close 25-23, 27-29, 13-25, 25-19, 18-16 win on the last day of VNL Week 3 at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday.

The reigning Olympics champ concluded their Manila campaign with a hard-fought victory over Brazil with a superb finish down the line. 

Coming off a reverse sweep meltdown against Japan on Saturday night, France made sure that there would be no upset this time around to cap their preliminary phase campaign with an 8-4 slate. 

Ricardo Lucarelli, Alan Souza, and Adriano Fernandes took charge for Brazil in the fifth set, helping the team to build a 13-10 advantage. 

With their back against the wall, France capitalized on a string of service errors from the side of the South Americans, with Theo Faure putting the team at match point, 17-16.

It was then Quentin Jouffroy who finished things off after a scintillating service ace to rout Brazil at 18-16. 

The 24-year-old opposite hitter Faure finished the game with a huge 29-point total, 25 from attacks, one on the block, and three booming aces. 

Jouffroy scored eight crucial markers for team France, with Kevin Tillie also adding 14 points across his name. 

On the other side of the court, Lucarelli ended his Manila stint with an 18-point performance for Brazil.

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