Vatreni, we discussed about the level of vball in Portugal. I remarked that their setters are really great (Pinheiro, Violas, they also have a skilled guy named Miguel Maia), but the hitters, except for a few, still struggle. Afonso informed us Cuban coach Juan Diaz was fired, which brought setter Nuno Pinheiro back to NT (they had a fight last year). The new Team Portugal head coach is an Italian called Flavio Gulinelli, former Cuneo and Iraklis coach. Our colleague Afonso is confident Portugal will do well this year at the WL.

Oi, Afonso, que bom que a TV portuguesa dá espaço ao voleibol. Espero que isso ajude a popularizar o esporte por aí. Conheço tanto o Tiago Violas quanto o Nuno Pinheiro – Bernardinho é fã do Nuno. Lembro bem do Mundial 2002 e da grande surpresa que foi Portugal terminar no top 8 – João José foi o melhor bloqueador do torneio. Não sabia sobre a demissão do Juan Diaz. O que houve? Alguma briga entre ele e a federação? Quem são os nomes cotados pra assumir o cargo? De qualquer forma, fico feliz de ver o Nuno Pinheiro de volta à seleção. Como o Tiago também é talentoso, Portugal está muito bem servido de levantadores (vocês dizem “passadores”). Sim, os atacantes não são coxos (hahaha), gosto do Hugo Gaspar. Boa sorte pra Portugal na Liga Mundial.

A liga portuguesa é transmitida ao vivo em todas as fases ou somente a fase final? Tem boa audiência?

Sempre que vejo equipes portuguesas, uma coisa me chama a atenção: Portugal tem bons levantadores, o maior problema está nos atacantes de ponta. Mesmo quando o bloqueio está quebrado eles estouram na defesa, dando ao adversário a chance de contra-atacar. Claro que isso acontece às vezes com times mais fortes, mas é constante nas equipes portuguesas. Aqui no v-m há um filme do Tiago Violas que mostra bem isso – várias vezes ele deixa os atacantes sem bloqueio ou quase, mesmo assim eles não marcam.

Nice sequence… The Laciga brothers (Switzerland) were favourites, but they probably underestimated the Portuguese team. Brenha and Maia were very efficient and placed fourth at the Olympics twice, never reaching a well-deserved Olympic medal – these two guys played an important role in the development of beach vball in Portugal. Interesting fact: The Lacigas were one of the strongest teams in the world, played together since youth, but they didn’t talk to each other.

Does anyone here have the Athens 2004 quarterfinal match between Canada and Spain? The Canadians were leading tie-break 14:11, but lost 14:16 after an incredible comeback by the Spaniards. In the most dramatic play, a Spaniard hit the ball out of bounds, but the Canuck blocker touched the net – if it weren’t for that mistake, Canada would have won.

Roninho, have you heard of a hockey team called “Toronto Maple Leafs”? They probably have the best fans in the world. I’m kidding, but I tell you why I called them “best fans”. That team hasn’t won a title since 1967, they became a joke in the NHL, but fans still pack the ACC, their gym in Toronto. Wow, 45 years and the fans are still there!

I heard a lot of bad stories about Skra fans – drunk uncles, fights with other supporters… My evil friend Zyta always tells me Resovia fans are great, but when you write such things you sound pretty much like those unbearable Polaco kids – once you’re a Resovia fan, it’s a biased opinion. You know, Polaco kids see their NT failing to win in every tournament, but keep behaving like they have a top squad. lol

As for the music, please… This Polaco version of “Go West” is annoying as the original – I guess you know the original is a gay disco song. I can’t help but remember the Polaco version of Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine”, a horrendous version they played till exhaustion in the 2011 WL finals – John and George rolling over in their graves, Paul and Ringo almost killing themselves.

Ciao amica mia, il tuo portoghese è eccellente, così come il gioco di Sheilla.

Wilfredo, I thought you lived in the States. Where exactly do you live in Canada?

Fantastic set? C’mon… It was the opponent’s MB fault. That middle must be Mozdzonek’s sister, so lazy. There’s nothing special about that set – neither quick nor creative, simply ordinary. I watched this clip expecting some move Takeshita’s or Venturini’s style, maybe some trick like Kun Feng used to do, but no… Please!

This is not a headshot.

Of course it’s true, Champion! Didn’t you believe me? Maybe Chrison should create a history section.