...CAVB...CONFEDERATION AFRICAINE DE VOLLEYBALL

Brazil crowned 2006 FIVB Men’s World Champions

Tokyo, 3rd December 2006 – Brazil easily brushed past Poland in the final of the 2006 FIVB Men’s World Championship to defend their title on Sunday. The team’s second consecutive World Championship gold medal maintains their position of leader in all international Volleyball events as reigning World, Olympic and World League Champions as well as World Cup Champions and World Grand Champions.
Brazil took total control over the game to secure the gold medal today against Poland at the Yoyogi National Stadium’s No. 1 Gymnasium in Tokyo. The 2002 World Champions defended their crown with an awesome display of power and precision to win 25-12, 25-22, 25-17 and had their fans dancing in the aisles long before the victory was complete. Brazil’s Giba took the 100,000 dollar individual award as Most Valuable Player (MVP) as the first choice of the coaches of the 12 finalist teams, the media and the FIVB Control Committee, each contributing a third of the total vote.
Bulgaria fought back from one-set down to beat Serbia-Montenegro 3-1 and claim the bronze medal. Bulgaria won 22-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-23 against fourth-ranked Serbia-Montenegro to finish with a 9-2 record and win their first World Championship medal in twenty years. Serbia-Montenegro ended with an 8-3 record and their fourth-place finish is the same as four years ago.

Brazil face Poland in FIVB Men’s World Championship final

Tokyo, 2nd December 2006 – Reigning World Champions Brazil will defend their title to the very end as they face Poland in tomorrow’s final of the 2006 FIVB Men’s World Championship. The Olympic champions held out in the battle of nerves in their semi-final against Serbia and Montenegro, while Poland outlasted European rivals Bulgaria to remain unbeaten in the tournament.

Following a shaky start to the first semi-final, Brazil recovered after Serbia and Montenegro won the second set with a clear ten-point difference to run out 25-19, 15-25, 25-22, 25-12 winners and claim their place in the final. The win left coach Bernardo Rezende relieved. "I am happy that we got to the final, after six years working with this team," he said. "But my main feeling is one of relief. First we had to get to the semi-finals, then the final. Now we have a third goal. The pressure is still there. We are a soccer country, and they don't like second place. It is not well-received in our country.”

Tunisia defeated Puerto Rico in five-set marathon before departure

Sendai, Japan, November 29, 2006: Tenacious Tunisia ended their World Championships campaign on a winning note, beating Puerto Rico 3-2 in a Pool E marathon on Wednesday.
The Africans won their first match of the second round, 38-40, 28-26, 16-25, 25-22, 15-11 to end with a 1-6 win- loss record and drop Puerto Rico to 2-5.
With Tunisia already eliminated and Puerto Rico already in the 9-12 classification bracket for Tokyo, the tempo and motivation of both teams was a little low in the early stages.
The Caribbean team led 8-6 at the first TTO, by which time points machine Hector Soto had already scored from right and left, the latter with a gentle push over the block into space, and southpaw Jose Rivera had displayed his quality on the left flank.
In the middle, Rene Esteves and captain Luis Rodriguez gave the Tunisians an early warning of their ability to pick off the points at the net.
In reply, Chaker Ghezal spiked and blocked at the net, and Noureddine Hfaiedh continued his impressive form out wide. Puerto Rico led 16-13 at the second TTO, and when Tunisia pulled level on some fine southpaw serving from captain Ghazi Guidara, Puerto Rico called the first TO of the match..

Second Round day 3
Bulgaria, Poland, Serbia and Montenegro claim semi-final berths

Hiroshima/Sendai, 28th November 2006 – After the penultimate day of the second round of the FIVB Men’s World Championship on Tuesday, the Pool E semi-final berths are already taken as Serbia and Montenegro and Poland extended their unbeaten record. Despite tough competition in Pool F, Bulgaria also extended their clean sheet to stay at the top and secure their first semi-final appearance in 20 years, while the remaining berth could go to defending champions Brazil (who face the undefeated Bulgaria tomorrow), France or Italy, who go head-to-head tomorrow in a European knockout.
Poland and Serbia and Montenegro advance to semis from Pool E
Puerto Rico beat Canada in straight sets on Tuesday to improve their record to 2-4 in Pool E and ensure a place in the final round. Led by tournament top scorer Hector Soto with another dazzling performance, Puerto Rico won 25-22, 25-21, 25-16 to leave Canada at 1-5 and unsure of a place in the Tokyo playoffs..