Beach Volleyball
This past weekend, Praia da Baía in Espinho served as the national epicentre for Beach Volleyball, hosting the second stop of the Portuguese National Tour. This tournament was a perfect warm-up event for the Beach Volleyball Nations Cup Final, which is scheduled to take place at the same location from July 17 to 20.
In the men’s competition, three-time national champions João Pedrosa and Hugo Campos secured the title. The women’s division saw a surprise victory for Daniela Loureiro and Vanessa Paquete.
The men’s final was a hard-fought match where João Pedrosa and Hugo Campos demonstrated their favourite status and experience, overcoming Francisco Pombeiro and Marcus Borlini in straight sets, 2-0 (21-19, 21-18). Brothers Gonçalo Sousa and Tomás Sousa finished third. Their consistent performance, following their win at the first stop, saw them defeat Tomás Natário and Gustavo Reis 2-0 (21-17, 25-23) for the bronze, maintaining their leading position in the national ranking.
The women’s final was an exciting three-set encounter, with Daniela Loureiro and Vanessa Paquete managing to defeat the three-time national champions Beatriz Pinheiro and Inês Castro (17-21, 21-16, 15-9). The bronze medal went to Mariana Maia and Gabriela Coelho, the same pair who finished third at the first stop. They secured their position again by defeating Matilde Moreira and Nydia Saavedra 2-0 (21-15, 21-15).
The Grand Rehearsal for the Nations Cup
Hosting the second national tour stop at Praia da Baía was considered a valuable opportunity for the Portuguese teams to prepare thoroughly for the upcoming Nations Cup Final. Competing in a high-level event at the exact same venue allowed the pairs to familiarise themselves with the atmosphere, test the sand conditions, and refine their strategies for the important international competition.
The Nations Cup promises a top-tier spectacle, bringing together the best teams from across Europe, including major stars of the sport such as Norway’s Anders Mol and Christian Sørum.
