Semifinalists confirmed at women’s Club Worlds

Manila, Philippines, October 20, 2016 – All four semifinalists of the 2016 FIVB Women’s Club World Championship have been confirmed with a two matches to spare before pool play winds down on Firday evening at the Mall of Asia Arena in the Philippines capital.Barring any immense upset by hosts PSL Manila for a sweep of defending champions Eczacibasi on the closing day of pool play, Friday, Saturday’s   semifinals should look like this:Semifinals:Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul v VakifBank IstanbulVolero Zurich v Pomi CasalmaggiorePlaces 5-8:Rexona Sesc Rio de Janeiro v Bangkok GlassHisamitsu Springs Kobe v PSL – F2 Logistics ManilaEczacibasi narrowly survived a disaster Thursday, when they trailed reigning South American champions Rexona Sesc Rio de Janeiro 1-2, only to come back and take the tie break, securing their ticket to the top four.Rexona, silver medallists in 2013 and fourth-ranked last year, bowed out of the medals round with the bitterweet taste of elimination after having pushed both the reigning European champions Pomi and the defending world champions Eczacibasi to their limits only to go down in two consecutive tie-breaks in what indeed was accurately dubbed the ‘pool of death’.Pomi Casalmaggiore followed through in Thursday’s closing match with a straight-set sweep of the home team, an all-star squad of the Philippines Super League strengthened with players from abroad, which once more provided thrills for the crowd with their inspiring fighting spirit – despite being no match for the powerhouses that they had to face.In Pool B meanwhile, Volero Zurich denied VakifBank Istanbul a full comeback after the Turkish side forced a tie-break, to to win in five after a match chock full of records and tournament and all-time highs.VakifBank’s two sets, however, were enough for them to join Volero in advancing to the medals round, setting up what in all likelihood will be a an all-Turkish semifinal.Earlier in the morning, Hisamitsu Springs …

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