Brazil’s Oscar/Andre win first FIVB World Tour men’s gold at FIVB Fortaleza Open

Fortaleza, Brazil, May 1, 2016 — Writing a script that would inspire a Hollywood producer, Brazil’s young lions Oscar Brandao and Andre Loyola roared to a gold medal victory Sunday over Germany’s Jonathan Erdmann/Kay Matysik at the FIVB Fortaleza Open. The FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour event was held at Praia do Futuro in Fortaleza.Brazil’s 22nd-seeded Oscar/Andre clawed their way past seven talented FIVB World Tour teams and in the gold medal finale, they won officially by forfeit over Germany’s third-seeded Erdmann/Matysik to earn the first FIVB World Tour gold medal. Germany’s Erdmann/Matysik won the first set 21-15 but Brazil’s Oscar/Andre seemed to be inspired by the roar of the packed stadium crowd to win the second set 21-18. Brazil kept the heat on and jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the tiebreaker set when Germany called a time out so that Matysik could be treated for overheating. The third set and Brazil continued to score points over an obviously fatigued German side. Not wishing to risk any serious injury after just returning from injury in its quest to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Germany retired from the match with Brazil leading 16-11. To that point the match had lasted 50 minutes. With the victory, Oscar/Andre gave Brazil its 182 all-time country gold medal on the FIVB World Tour as Brazil now has 547 all-time FIVB final four placements, the most all-time by any country in FIVB World Tour history.The FIVB Fortaleza Open was the 340th all-time FIVB World Tour event and Brazil now has a 20-8 gold medal match record against Germany.In the men’s bronze medal match, Mexico’s third-seeded Lombardo Ontiveros/Juan Virgen picked up some valuable Olympic Qualifying points by defeating a friendly foe in Chile’s seventh-seeded cousins Marco Grimalt/Esteban Grimalt, winning in two sets, 23-21, 21-17 in 40 minutes.FIVB FORTALEZA OPEN PURSE/POINTSThe gold medal teams in each gender at the FIVB Fortaleza Open will split $11,000 and 500 points, the silver $8,000 and 450 points, the bronze $6,000 400 points and fourth place $4,500 and 450 points. The FIVB Fortaleza Open was the fourth event in Brazil that was part of this year’s 2016 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour. This was also the fifth of eight straight events on the FIVB World Tour as the qualification window is drawing to a close for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. GOLD MEDAL REVIEWThe match saw two sets where each team seem to dominate one but retrospect in the set it was apparent that while Brazil’s Oscar/Andre were gaining momentum rapidly, Germany’s Erdmann/Matysik were starting to fade in the heat. From the start of the third set it was clear that Brazil’s Oscar/Andre had the moment, fans and home sand advantage and Germany’s Erdmann/Matysik were holding on as best they could before Matysik went down again in the heat and the match was called.Meeting in the first FIVB World Tour gold medal match for either team, Brazil’s Oscar, 30, and Andre, 21, were playing in just their fifth FIVB World Tour event and was their …

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