Cachopa guides Sada Cruzeiro to seventh South American title
 |
| Setter Fernando Cachopa was the Most Valuable Player of the tournament |
Contagem, Brazil, February 16, 2020 – Sada Cruzeiro Vôlei extended their dominance in South American volleyball on Saturday as the Brazilian powerhouse defeated Argentina’s UPCN Voley 3-1 (25-18, 14-25, 25-19, 25-23) in Contagem, Brazil, to claim their seventh continental title in front of their home fans.
Setter Fernando ‘Cachopa’ Kreling played a pivotal role in Sada Cruzeiro’s victory at the Men’s Club South American Championship with impeccable distribution that helped all of the team’s spikers to have a prolific match.
“The energy of our supporters was fantastic tonight,” Cachopa commented. “We had some difficult moments during the match and they pushed us through them. We faced a really good team, one that’s really smart on defence, but we prepared for a long and demanding match and we brought what we needed to win it.”
The setter was selected as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. The South American Championship’s Dream Team featured setter Sebastián Brajkovic (UPCN), opposite Luan Weber (Sada Cruzeiro), outside hitters Facundo Conte (Sada Cruzeiro) and Miguel López (UPCN), middle blockers Otavio Pinto (Sada Cruzeiro) and Maurício Souza (EMS Taubaté Funvic) and libero Nicolás Perren (UPCN).
The 24-year-old Cachopa has been a constant presence in Brazil’s national team as he started in 12 of the country’s 19 matches at the 2019 FIVB Volleyball Nations League. He is expected to be part of the team’s roster during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics providing a solid backup option for team captain Bruno Rezende.
Sada Cruzeiro players pose with the trophy of the South American Championship
Sada Cruzeiro, who won the silver medal at the 2019 FIVB Men’s Club World Championships in December, have now triumphed in seven of the nine most recent editions of the South American Championship, missing the gold medals only in 2013, when they didn’t play the tournament, and 2015, when the team was second behind UPCN. The club have now won 37 trophies in 50 tournaments played since 2010.
“This is one of those matches we’ll never forget,” middle blocker Isac Santos said. “To win this title at home in front of our fans, it’s rewarding. We knew it wouldn’t be easy but we did what we had to do. UPCN played a great match and never gave up, but playing at our home, it had to be ours.”
Brazil’s EMS Taubaté Funvic claimed the bronze medals as the Brazilian side downed Argentina’s Club Bolivar 3-1 (25-19, 26-24, 21-25, 25-13).
More volleyball from Brazil:
Source: Volley - fivb.org
