Brazilian Olympian André Loyola made a strong return to the 2025 Itapema stop of the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour, now playing alongside his new partner, Renato Lima. The dynamic duo progressed from the qualification round into the knockout stage, demonstrating a promising start to the tournament.
Loyola, who has secured four gold medals at Itapema between 2018 and 2023, partnered with Lima in August. Although their ranking required them to start in the qualifiers, they quickly found their footing. They won convincingly against fellow Brazilians Bruno Peiter and Nicholas Schosler with a scoreline of 21-12, 21-12. In a thrilling Pool E match, they narrowly defeated Italy’s Samuele Cottafava and Gianluca Del Corso in two tight sets: 27-25 and 24-22.
Upcoming Challenge
Their next match will be a critical one against Brazilian teammates Heitor Benito and Vinícius Freitas. The victor will top Pool E and earn a direct spot in the Round of 12, raising the stakes for the upcoming clash as the elimination rounds begin on Friday.
Highlights Across the Men's Bracket
Brazilian teams continue to dominate:
- Arthur Mariano and Adrielson dos Santos won both of their matches in straight sets.
- Evandro/Arthur Lanci and George/Saymon Barbosa also secured victories.
- International pairs such as the Crabb brothers from the USA and Chilean duo Marco and Esteban Grimalt made notable appearances.
Looking Ahead
The 2025 Itapema Elite16 is set to run through Sunday. With every match tightening and medal contention looming, the competition is ramping up in intensity.
For the full article and latest updates, visit the official tour page on Volleyball World.
