By Luiza Moscoso, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO – The volleyball’s national championship – known as Superliga – was decided last week in both male and female categories. The men’s team Cimed/Brasil Telecom, from Santa Catarina, got their third title in the competition. On the women’s side, the team Rexona/Ades, from Rio de Janeiro, continued their supremacy and won the gold medal for the sixth time.
During 2008/2009, Superliga celebrated it’s 15th season and both Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina teams reinforced their positions as the two stronger groups in the national volleyball current scenario.
For the fourth time in a row, the Carioca female team beat the Paulista Finasa/Osasco in the finals. The game was decided in a tie break (25/22, 21/25, 18/25, 27/25 and 15/12). Bernardinho, coach of the male national team and also leading the girls from Rio, was acclaimed as a key factor to the victory.
“We were really excited after we managed to win the fourth set, so Bernardinho called us and told us to focus again on the match. I believe we won because we followed his instructions”, said the middle hitter Carol Gattaz. “Bernardinho is the man”, added outside hitter Érika.
The coach shares the merits with the whole team when analyzing the victory. “Collectivity prevailed. Volleyball is a sport in which you can’t win alone. Érika and Fabiana were very good on the attack, Dani Lins had ups and downs, but knew how to control the game during important moments. Carol Gattaz was very good on the middle and Fabizinha was a giant on digs and reception”.
The team São Caetano/Blausiegel defeated Brasil Telecom, both from Santa Catarina, and finished the competition in third place.
On the men’s competition, Cimed/Brasil Telecom defeated Vivo/Minas, from Minas Gerais, in straight sets, 3-0. The Santa Catarina team got to the highest place on the Superliga podium for the second time in a row. The third place went to another team from Minas Gerais, Sada Cruzeiro Vôlei.
If Bernardinho was acclaimed the main reason for the Carioca girl’s victory, Bruno Rezende, his son, proved talent is in the blood. Captain and setter of the Catarinense team, Bruno stood out on the game and ended up crowned as best setter of the competition.
“It’s great to win once again at Maracanãzinho, in Rio. This title was more than special and our team has grown a lot during the season”, analyzed Rezende.
After disputing nine finals and wining five Superliga titles, Dirceu, the most experienced player in the Santa Catarina’s team, put the ball under his shirt and celebrated with the rooters: “I thought it was important to keep this as a souvenir. The victory was a consequence of our campaign during the whole championship”.
The volleyball fans now have to wait a couple of months to see the best Brazilian male players in action. The national team premieres at the World League on June 13th, led by coach Bernardinho, in São Paulo.
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