Osaka, Japan, September 17, 2017 – Brazil finished in style at the 2017 edition of the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Grand Champions Cup with a sweeping victory over Japan to collect their record fifth title at the Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium on Sunday.
Brazil have long established their domination at the Men’s World Grand Champions Cup with four title wins to their name and their 3-0 (25-17, 25-15, 25-22) win over Japan completed their mission to extend their reign in the tournament.
Lucas Saatkamp and Mauricio Borges led Brazil in the tournament’s closing match, but Ricardo Lucarelli and Wallace De Souza's consistent performances in the tournament helped the team achieve this new feat.
Italy made a brilliant 3-1 (25-22, 25-22, 23-25, 29-27) winning finish against USA to maintain their record of finishing on the podium in all of their four participations at the World Grand Champions Cup. The Italians, in this edition, bagged the silver medal to add to their collection of gold and bronze medals.
Filippo Lanza top scored for Italy against USA and assisted in their silver medal finish, while opposite Luca Vettori played a vital role in their previous matches that led to four victories. Vettori made a total of 93 points from 78 spikes, nine blocks and six aces.
Iran had its best finish in the tournament by taking the bronze medal, after finishing fifth and fourth in the 2009 and 2013 editions, respectively. Iran also recorded four victories in the tournament as they completed their final obstacle against France 3-2 (38-36, 25-23, 22-25, 25-27, 15-11).
USA dropped to fourth place after their four-set loss to Italy, while France and Japan finished in fifth and sixth places.
Most Valuable Player: Ricardo Lucarelli (BRA)
Best Outside Spikers: Ricardo Lucarelli (BRA), Milad Ebadipour (IRI)
Best Middle Blockers: Matteo Piano (ITA), Lucas Saatkamp (BRA)
Best Setter: Simone Giannelli (ITA)
Best Opposite Spiker: Matthew Anderson (USA)
Best Libero: Satoshi Ide (JPN)
Top Scorer by Day
23 – Filippo Lanza of Italy v Iran on September 12
27 – Luca Vettori of Italy v Brazil on September 13
22 – Luca Vettori of Italy v Japan on September 15
27 – Matt Anderson of USA v Brazil on September 16
25 – Trevor Clevenot of France v Iran on September 17
Top Scoring Performances
27 – Matt Anderson of USA v Brazil on September 16
27 – Luca Vettori of Italy v Brazil on September 13
25 – Trevor Clevenot of France v Iran on September 17
24 – Amir Ghafour of Iran v France on September 17
24 – Luca Vettori of Italy v France on September 16
23 – Amir Ghafour of Iran v Japan on September 16
23 – Filippo Lanza of Italy v Iran on September 12
22 – Wallace De Souza of Brazil v USA on September 16
22 – Luca Vettori of Italy v Japan on September 15
Top Individual Serving Performances
5 – Matthew Anderson of USA v France on September 14
4 – Mohammadjavad Manavinezhad of Iran v France on September 17
4 – Shohei Yamamoto of Japan v Iran on September 16
4 – Matthew Anderson of USA v Iran on September 13
4 – Oleg Antonov of Italy v Iran on September 12
Top Team Serving Performances
8 – USA v France on September 15
8 – Italy v Iran on September 12
Top Individual Blocking Performances
6 – Daniele Mazzone of Italy v Iran on September 12
5 – Seyed Mohammed Mousavi Eraghi of Iran v France on September 17
5 – Barthelemy Chinenyeze of France v Japan on September 13
4 – Lucas Saatkamp of Brazil v Japan on September 17
4 – Saman Faezi of Iran v Japan on September 16
4 – Matteo Piano of Italy v France on September 16
4 – Barthelemy Chinenyeze of France v Italy on September 16
4 – Micah Christenson of USA v Brazil on September 16
4 – Matteo Piano of Italy v Japan on September 15
4 – Mauricio Souza of Brazil v Iran on September 15
4 – Luca Vettori of Italy v Brazil on September 13
4 – Wallace De Souza of Brazil v Italy on September 13
4 – Matteo Piano of Italy v Iran on September 12
4 – Mauricio Souza of Brazil v France on September 12
Top Team Blocking Performances
15 – Italy v Iran on September 12
14 – Iran v France on September 17
13 – Brazil v USA on September 16
13 – USA v Brazil on September 16
12 – Brazil v Japan on September 17
12 – Italy v Japan on September 15
11 – Italy v France on September 16
11 – Brazil v Iran on September 15
11 – France v Japan on September 13
11 – Italy v Brazil on September 13
11 – Brazil v France on September 12
Highest Scoring Sets
38-36 – Iran v France on September 17
31-29 – Italy v Iran on September 12
29-27 – Italy v USA on September 17
28-26 – Brazil v USA on September 16
27-25 – Iran v USA on September 13
27-25 – Italy v Brazil on September 13
25-23 – Italy v Japan on September 15
Highest Scoring Matches
247 – Iran v France 3-2 (38-36, 25-23, 22-25, 25-27, 15-11) on September 17
232 – Italy v Iran 2-3 (19-25, 25-23, 26-28, 31-29, 11-15) on September 12
214 – USA v Brazil 2-3 (26-28, 25-15, 20-25, 25-22, 13-15) on September 16
214 – Brazil v Italy 2-3 (25-15, 25-27, 25-27, 25-18, 12-15) on September 13
187 – Italy v Japan 3-1 (25-23, 22-25, 25-20, 25-22) on September 15