Darlan delivered a stellar 28-point performance as Brazil's men's national team secured first place in the 2025 Volleyball Nations League final phase with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Türkiye in Chiba, Japan.
Coach Bernardinho opted for a mixed lineup with several starters rested, featuring Darlan, Lucarelli, and Cachopa in the starting formation. The strategy paid off brilliantly.
"We knew we needed to manage our players' workload while still securing the top position for the finals," Bernardinho might have explained about his rotation decisions.
The match followed an intriguing pattern. Brazil controlled the opening set 25-22 before showing their resilience in the second frame, claiming it 26-24 despite facing strong opposition. Türkiye, led by Mandiraci who scored an impressive 24 points, fought back to take the third set 22-25, but the South Americans regained their momentum to close out the match 25-22 in the fourth.
Lucarelli contributed 13 points to Brazil's victory, while Arthur Bento added 11 points to the team's tally. Interestingly, this mixed lineup approach showcased the impressive depth of Brazil's talent pool ahead of the knockout stages.
With this victory, Brazil remains the team to beat in the tournament. Can anyone stop them from claiming the 2025 VNL title?
