BY ABBY TORALBA
WITH skipper Abdel-Aziz Nimir leading the way, The Netherlands turned back Canada yesterday 25-22, 25-22, 17-25, 25-18 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay and boosted its bid to reach the final phase of the VNL men’s competition.
Nimir fired 24 points, 22 off attacks and two service aces, while Jorna Gijs and Maarten Van Garderen contributed 12 and 11 markers, respectively, as the Dutch improved to 5-4 in Week 3 of action and strengthen their hold of the coveted No. 8 spot with a 5-4 record.
“Of course, it’s really important, you know, it’s really close– the (spot) for the eighth-seventh places,” Nimir said. “So, we needed this win to still hopes to qualify for the final (phase). It was an important match.
“It’s nice to play here. Last year was nice, this year is nice. It’s good to see the fans. It’s gonna be a nice week,” he added.
The win was a big shot in The Netherlands in its tight race with reigning champion France, which lags behind at No. 9 with a 4-5 card.
Only the top eight squads from the 16-team VNL–organized by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and Volleyball World with Ganten, Gerflor, Mikasa, Mizuno, Senoh and Stake.com as global sponsors–march to the final round from July 19 to 24 in Poland.
Nimir’s outburst included three straight points in the pivotal second set, where the world No. 10 Dutch, after a narrow win in the opening set, dropped a 4-0 finishing kick to snatch a 25-22 win and post a massive 2-0 lead.
Canada, behind Ryan Joseph Sclater, battled back in the third set behind a 17-7 start to extend the match but Nimir brought the Netherlands home in the fourth set.
Teaming up with Garderen this time, the 6-foot-7 Nimir fired two straight kills while Garderen took his turn by launching three aces in a row for a hot 5-1 Netherlands start.
The Dutch face another big duel against powerhouse Brazil (6-3) today, Thursday, in the final preliminary leg of the VNL that also has PLDT, Rebisco, Akari and the PSC as major sponsors.
Sclater had 20 points but Canada, world No. 15, still absorbed its seventh loss in nine matches to stay at 14th place.
In the other game last Tuesday, Japan outlasted China in five sets 24-26, 25-23, 21-25, 25-23, 15-12.
