Bronze guaranteed: Brazil defeats Japan and climbs to the podium at the Women's Volleyball World Cup

The Brazilian women's volleyball team concluded its World Cup campaign with yet another triumph. On Sunday morning, September 7, the team defeated Japan in a dramatic match, winning 3 sets to 2 and securing the bronze medal. The scores were 25-12, 25-17, 19-25, 27-29, and 18-16, reflecting the intensity of the match.

Brazil took the court with a dominant stance. In the first two sets, the team controlled the pace and asserted its superiority, especially with Gabi's precise attacks, who finished the match as the top scorer with 35 points.

The Brazilian blocking also stood out. Júlia Kudiess shone with five points in this area, while Diana and Rosamaria contributed three each. The efficient marking strategy destabilized the Japanese attack and gave Zé Roberto Guimarães's team a comfortable lead.

Japanese reaction and balance in the match

In the third set, Japan came back more aggressive and opened up an eight-point lead, capitalizing on Brazilian errors and building on defense. The Asians' comeback brought excitement back to the match, which remained evenly matched until the end.

The fourth set was even more intense. Brazil started well but faced moments of instability. The Japanese took advantage of their mistakes to turn the score around and close out the set 29-27, sending the decision to a tiebreak.

Electrifying tie-break and Gabi's leadership

In the deciding set, the Brazilian team showed resilience. Gabi once again took center stage, taking responsibility in the most tense moments and leading the team to an 18-16 victory. The result secured Brazil another World Championship medal, bringing its total to six podium finishes: four silver medals and two bronze medals.

History of conquests and Japanese drought

With the victory, Brazil reinforces its tradition as one of the greatest powers in world volleyball. Japan, despite being the second-highest medalist in the competition, has not reached the podium in 15 years. The country has seven medals in the tournament: three gold, three silver, and one bronze.

As the Women's World Cup comes to an end, the title decision will be played this Sunday, at 9:30 am (Brasília time), between Türkiye and Italy, with live broadcast on sportv2.

The men's World Cup will begin on September 12 in the Philippines and will continue until the 28th. The Brazilian team, led by Bernardinho, is seeking its fourth title. The debut will be against China, on Sunday (14), at 10 am (Brasília time), in the cities of Quezon City and Pasay.