POWERHOUSE Brazil and Southeast Asian surprise package Indonesia took the first two semifinal spots up for grabs in the quarterfinal round Wednesday in the 2015 Spike For Peace International Beach Volleyball Tournament at the Multi-Purpose Arena, Philsports Complex in Pasig City.
Brazil, which advanced into the quarterfinal round after ousting the United States in straight sets, 21-15, 21-15, needed three sets this time to turn back The Netherlands, 21-14, 19-21, 15-12, behind the heady plays of Gabrielle Ilke Meertens, who finished with 18 points on the net and 21 overall.
Her partner, Hoeven Van Der, chipped in nine points, seven from her serves.
Mimi Perrazo Ameral led the Dutch ladies with 19 attack points and 27 overall.
Later, the Indonesian pair of Dati Jasami Utami Putu and Juliana Dhita, who topped Group B with a 2-0 card, played smart volleyball in outwitting the taller pair of Amaranta Fernandez and Ester Ribera of Spain, 22-20, 23-21.
The Indonesians, however, had a difficult time putting away the Spaniards, posting the win after two deuces in the first set and three deuces in the second.
Phutu, who time and again outsmarted the taller Fernandez in their net battles, finished with 19 spikes and 23 overall, while her partner Dhita added 13 kills and two service aces.
Fernandez led the Spaniards with 21 points, 17 off net attacks, while Ribera added 19.
The losses dropped The Netherlands and the Spaniards to the losers’ bracket, and will need to beat the losers of the Thailand-Sweden and Japan-New Zealand matches, respectively, to advance into the semifinals of the tournament organized by the Philippine Sports Commission.
The Japanese and the Kiwis were still playing as of press time, before the Thais and the Swedes clash against each other.
