FIVB Men's Beach - Ostend, Belgium
12-16 August 1998

EVENT SCHEDULE

PRESS RELEASES

HAPPINESS FOR THE PORTUGUESE TEAM MAIA - BRENHA IN OSTEND

Everything was in place to make this final day of the Belgian Leg of FIVB WORLD TOUR BEACH VOLLEYBALL of OSTEND a great success. Four of the best world teams in the highest condition, a referees team of the best quality, an audience exceeding by far the capacity of stadium... which proved, under the circumstances, to be too small, a paradise-like environment and finally, very important indeed, a generous –again !- sun.

It is thus not surprising that the final day of the fourth edition of what has become more and more a genuine "event" of the Belgian summer. This event, that was, once again this year, the subject of a live broadcast on the main national TV channels, raised the enthusiasm of the very large audience that came today to Ostend, the Queen of Belgian beaches.

As of the semi-finals, the tone had been given. The two matches reached an excellent level of play, a level that could appear in theory books: ideally gauged powerful services, blocks as solid as the Rocky mountains, powerful and various attacks alternating with balls cleverly placed out of the adversary’s reach and, last but not least, dives as one can see only at the occasion of matches of the greatest importance.

At this game, the teams ZE MARCO - RICARDO (this one having been pushed in its last resources by American duet BOULLIANNE - IAN CLARK who did only lose 15-11 after a bitter 71 minutes battle) and MAIA - BRENHA proved to be a little more effective and thus gained the right to dispute the title and the medals.

The battle between the two teams of Portuguese expression was sumptuous. The Brazilian team started as the favourite, but Portuguese MAIA - BRENHA, encouraged by their remarkable run in this tournament… and by the Belgian audience wanting to see prolong this clash of Titans to the maximum, showed that they did not have any complex.

They were inspired to approach this capital match in such a state of mind because they managed to surprise the Brazilian champions, who did not expect such a turn of events. Thus the Portuguese took the command of the first set and did not release it anymore before they reached the twelfth point (12-9). In the second set, MAIA and BRENHA started ahead again but, at 3-1, ZE MARCO and RICARDO found their marks in the block-defense relation and not only started to remake surface but also to take the lead in front of their adversaries, who at the same time crossed a short unproductive period: 6 -12. One could believe that the Brazilians were « en route » for a new success in the tie-break that followed. However the two Portuguese, forming a very homogeneous team, did not lose any important point. After a thrilling even fight, the score having reached 12-11 in favour of the Portuguese, a placed ball licked the outer limits of the court.... The referees gave the ball out and so could the Portuguese receive their first and well deserved international great success.

As the match for the third place had been won, just like three years ago, by Canadian CHILD-HEESE, the podium of this ninth handle of FIVB WORLD TOUR BEACH VOLLEYBALL is thus composed this way:

1. MAIA – BRENHA (Portugal)

2. ZE MARCO - RICARDO (Brazil)

3. CHILD - HEESE (Canada)

Go is already given for next year. If everything allows it to happen…

FINAL RANKING

Ostend, Belgium Open, 14-16 August 1998

Rk. Players Country Points Prize (US$) Bonus (US$) 1 Maia-Brenha POR 340 20,000.00 12,000.00 2 Zé Marco-Ricardo BRA 306 13,000.00 10,000.00 3 Child-Heese CAN 272 8,000.00 7,000.00 4 Boullianne-Ian Clark USA 238 6,000.00 6,000.00 5 Zahner-Prosser AUS 204 4,500.00 4,500.00 Ahmann-Hager GER 204 4,500.00 4,500.00 7 Martinez-Conde ARG 170 3,000.00 3,000.00 M.Laciga-P.Laciga SUI 170 3,000.00 3,000.00 9 Paulo Emilio-Paulão BRA 136 2,500.00 2,000.00 Pakosta-Dzavoronok CZE 136 2,500.00 2,000.00 Bosma-Diez ESP 136 2,500.00 2,000.00 Kvalheim-Maaseide NOR 136 2,500.00 2,000.00 13 Pará-Guilherme BRA 102 2,000.00 1,200.00 Lione-Ghiurghi ITA 102 2,000.00 1,200.00 Kjemperud-Hoidalen NOR 102 2,000.00 1,200.00 Seuseu-Eade NZL 102 2,000.00 1,200.00 17 Salema-Baracetti ARG 68 1,500.00 500.00 Delfosse-Kempenaers BEL 68 1,500.00 500.00 Holden-Leinemann CAN 68 1,500.00 500.00 Kubala-Palinek CZE 68 1,500.00 500.00 Jodard-Penigaud FRA 68 1,500.00 500.00 Dieckmann Ch.-Dieckmann M. GER 68 1,500.00 500.00 Henkel-Wong USA 68 1,500.00 500.00 Sinjin Smith-Luyties USA 68 1,500.00 500.00 25 Anfilloff-Schacht AUS 34 1,000.00 400.00 Leitner-Stamm AUT 34 1,000.00 400.00 Van Elslande-Embrechts BEL 34 1,000.00 400.00 Waelkens-Van der Stra BEL 34 1,000.00 400.00 Guissart-Deulofeu FRA 34 1,000.00 400.00 Ibarra-Garcia MEX 34 1,000.00 400.00 Gorbenko-Ermichin RUS 34 1,000.00 400.00 Kouchnerev-Karasev RUS 34 1,000.00 400.00

RESULTS

Ostend, Belgium Open, 14-16 August 1998

PARTICIPATING TEAMS

Ostend, Belgium Open, 14-16 August 1998

The Participating Teams

Main Draw (14-16 August)