SILVA AND MACHADO COMPLETE STUNNING COMEBACK TO WIN PRO FOOTVOLLEY TOUR STOP 5
HOLLYWOOD, FL — What began with flooding and delays ended with a race against darkness — and one of the most dramatic championship runs of the 2026 Pro Footvolley Tour season.
Jonathan Silva and Rafael Machado overcame two opening losses, survived match point in the quarterfinals, won an epic 28-26 semifinal and then defeated Dani Mendonca and Pedro Lube, 25-21, to capture Pro Footvolley Tour Stop 5 on Hollywood Beach.
Remarkably, Silva and Machado had never played together before.
Prior to the tournament, Tour management made the decision to randomly pair athletes rather than allow players to select their own partners, with the goal of creating greater parity throughout the field.
The move proved to be an excellent one.
With new partnerships spread throughout the draw, Stop 5 developed into perhaps the most evenly matched competition of the 2026 season, with close matches throughout group play and the elimination rounds. Ultimately, it was the first-time partnership of Silva and Machado that survived them all.
But before competition could even get underway, the tournament faced another challenge.
KING TIDES FORCE TOURNAMENT ADJUSTMENTS
King Tides and flooding across South Florida delayed the start of Saturday’s competition, immediately putting the tournament in a race against the clock.
With limited daylight remaining, the format had to be adjusted. Group-stage matches were shortened to 21 points, followed by 18-point quarterfinals. The Tour then returned to its regular 25-point format for the semifinals and championship match.
Those adjustments proved critical.
Even with the shortened early rounds, the championship match nearly didn’t finish before darkness took over Hollywood Beach.
And no team took a more difficult road to that final than Silva and Machado.
GROUP A: SILVA AND MACHADO DROP THEIR FIRST TWO
The eventual champions couldn’t have started much worse.
Silva and Machado opened Group A against Dani Mendonca and Pedro Lube, who delivered a convincing 21-10 victory.
Silva and Machado then faced Joao Sonda and Dagoberto and came much closer, but again fell short. Sonda and Dagoberto prevailed 22-20, leaving Silva and Machado winless through group play.
Sonda and Dagoberto then completed an undefeated group stage by defeating Mendonca and Lube 22-20.
Group A Results
Dani Mendonca / Pedro Lube 21, Jonathan Silva / Rafael Machado 10
Joao Sonda / Dagoberto 22, Jonathan Silva / Rafael Machado 20
Joao Sonda / Dagoberto 22, Dani Mendonca / Pedro Lube 20
Despite the 0-2 start, Silva and Machado remained alive.
That would prove to be all they needed.
GROUP B: FELIPE ELIAS AND SCHIMMING TAKE CONTROL
Group B featured several close matches, beginning with Felipe Elias and Joao Schimming defeating Igor Grossi and Matheus Soares 21-19.
Grossi and Soares responded by edging Gustavo Elias and Gabriel Goncalves 21-20.
Felipe Elias and Schimming then secured their position atop the group with a 23-15 victory over Gustavo Elias and Goncalves.
Group B Results
Felipe Elias / Joao Schimming 21, Igor Grossi / Matheus Soares 19
Igor Grossi / Matheus Soares 21, Gustavo Elias / Gabriel Goncalves 20
Felipe Elias / Joao Schimming 23, Gustavo Elias / Gabriel Goncalves 15
GROUP C: PAES AND PEREIRA GO UNDEFEATED
Karoy Csk and Joao Leibold opened Group C with a 21-14 victory over Omri Goldman and Peleg Mansoor.
They then faced Lucas Paes and Gabriel Pereira, who won 21-12.
Paes and Pereira completed an undefeated group stage by defeating Goldman and Mansoor 21-10, establishing themselves as one of the strongest teams of the opening round.
Group C Results
Karoy Csk / Joao Leibold 21, Omri Goldman / Peleg Mansoor 14
Lucas Paes / Gabriel Pereira 21, Karoy Csk / Joao Leibold 12
Lucas Paes / Gabriel Pereira 21, Omri Goldman / Peleg Mansoor 10
Their undefeated run set up a quarterfinal matchup with a team that had yet to win a match.
That team was Jonathan Silva and Rafael Machado.
QUARTERFINALS: SILVA AND MACHADO REFUSE TO GO HOME
With daylight becoming an increasing concern, the quarterfinals were shortened to 18 points.
Sonda and Dagoberto continued their strong day by defeating Karoy Csk and Joao Leibold 18-13.
Felipe Elias and Joao Schimming remained unbeaten with an 18-11 victory over Gustavo Elias and Gabriel Goncalves.
Mendonca and Lube also advanced, defeating Igor Grossi and Matheus Soares 18-15.
But the match of the round belonged to Silva and Machado.
After losing both of their group matches, they faced the undefeated Lucas Paes and Gabriel Pereira.
At 17-15, their tournament appeared to be over.
Paes and Pereira stood at match point. One more point and Silva and Machado were eliminated.
Instead, Jonathan Silva once again showed the resolve that has become a hallmark of his biggest Tour performances.
Silva and Machado fought off match point and began a stunning comeback.
They erased the 17-15 deficit and scored five consecutive points, transforming what appeared to be certain elimination into an improbable 20-18 victory.
Quarterfinal Results
Joao Sonda / Dagoberto 18, Karoy Csk / Joao Leibold 13
Felipe Elias / Joao Schimming 18, Gustavo Elias / Gabriel Goncalves 11
Jonathan Silva / Rafael Machado 20, Lucas Paes / Gabriel Pereira 18
Dani Mendonca / Pedro Lube 18, Igor Grossi / Matheus Soares 15
Silva and Machado had entered the quarterfinals without a victory.
Now they were two wins away from a championship.
SEMIFINALS: A 28-26 CLASSIC
With the field down to four teams, the tournament returned to the Tour’s regular 25-point format.
In the first semifinal, Mendonca and Lube faced Sonda and Dagoberto.
Sonda and Dagoberto had beaten Mendonca and Lube 22-20 during group play, but this time the result was reversed.
Mendonca and Lube won 25-22, punching their ticket to the championship match.
The second semifinal featured Silva and Machado against the previously unbeaten Felipe Elias and Joao Schimming.
What followed was one of the most competitive matches of the tournament.
Neither team could put the other away as the match went beyond 25 and deep into extra points.
Silva and Machado finally prevailed 28-26, completing another pressure-filled victory and earning their place in the championship match.
Semifinal Results
Dani Mendonca / Pedro Lube 25, Joao Sonda / Dagoberto 22
Jonathan Silva / Rafael Machado 28, Felipe Elias / Joao Schimming 26
After starting the tournament with consecutive losses, Silva and Machado had now survived match point in the quarterfinals and a 54-point semifinal.
One match remained.
And it came against the team that had beaten them 21-10 to start the day.
CHAMPIONSHIP: REVENGE WITH DAYLIGHT DISAPPEARING
By the time Silva and Machado and Mendonca and Lube took the court for the championship, another opponent had entered the equation:
Darkness.
The King Tide delay had pushed the entire tournament schedule back. Even after shortening group play and the quarterfinals, the championship was in danger of running out of daylight.
Silva and Machado were also facing the same team that had handed them their most decisive defeat of the tournament.
In their first match together as partners, Mendonca and Lube had beaten them 21-10.
Hours later, they met again with the championship on the line.
This time, the result was reversed.
Silva and Machado completed their remarkable turnaround with a 25-21 victory, avenging their group-stage defeat and capturing the Stop 5 championship just before darkness brought competition to an end.
Championship Final
Jonathan Silva / Rafael Machado 25, Dani Mendonca / Pedro Lube 21
FROM RANDOM PARTNERS TO CHAMPIONS
The result provided a fitting conclusion to an event built around parity.
Rather than arriving with established teams, athletes were randomly paired before the tournament in an effort to create a more balanced field and new competitive matchups.
The results spoke for themselves.
There were five matches decided by two points, including a 28-26 semifinal, while both semifinal matchups were rematches in which the result from group play was reversed.
And the eventual champions were a partnership that had never competed together before.
Silva and Machado started their first tournament as teammates 0-2.
They lost 21-10 to Mendonca and Lube.
They lost 22-20 to Sonda and Dagoberto.
Then, facing 15-17 match point against the undefeated Lucas Paes and Gabriel Pereira in the quarterfinals, they were one point away from elimination.
From that moment forward, everything changed.
They scored five consecutive points to win 20-18.
They survived Felipe Elias and Joao Schimming 28-26 in the semifinals.
And with darkness approaching, they defeated Mendonca and Lube 25-21 to avenge their opening-round loss and win the championship.
A tournament delayed by King Tides and flooding required shortened matches, constant adjustments and a race against the setting sun.
It also validated the decision to create new partnerships and a more balanced field.
And when the final point was scored, it was one of those brand-new partnerships standing on top.
Jonathan Silva and Rafael Machado — playing together for the first time — went from 0-2 to Pro Footvolley Tour Stop 5 champions.
COMPLETE STOP 5 RESULTS
| Round | Winning Team | Score | Losing Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group A | Dani Mendonca / Pedro Lube | 21-10 | Jonathan Silva / Rafael Machado |
| Group B | Felipe Elias / Joao Schimming | 21-19 | Igor Grossi / Matheus Soares |
| Group A | Joao Sonda / Dagoberto | 22-20 | Jonathan Silva / Rafael Machado |
| Group B | Igor Grossi / Matheus Soares | 21-20 | Gustavo Elias / Gabriel Goncalves |
| Group C | Karoy Csk / Joao Leibold | 21-14 | Omri Goldman / Peleg Mansoor |
| Group B | Felipe Elias / Joao Schimming | 23-15 | Gustavo Elias / Gabriel Goncalves |
| Group C | Lucas Paes / Gabriel Pereira | 21-12 | Karoy Csk / Joao Leibold |
| Group A | Joao Sonda / Dagoberto | 22-20 | Dani Mendonca / Pedro Lube |
| Group C | Lucas Paes / Gabriel Pereira | 21-10 | Omri Goldman / Peleg Mansoor |
| Quarterfinal | Joao Sonda / Dagoberto | 18-13 | Karoy Csk / Joao Leibold |
| Quarterfinal | Felipe Elias / Joao Schimming | 18-11 | Gustavo Elias / Gabriel Goncalves |
| Quarterfinal | Jonathan Silva / Rafael Machado | 20-18 | Lucas Paes / Gabriel Pereira |
| Quarterfinal | Dani Mendonca / Pedro Lube | 18-15 | Igor Grossi / Matheus Soares |
| Semifinal | Dani Mendonca / Pedro Lube | 25-22 | Joao Sonda / Dagoberto |
| Semifinal | Jonathan Silva / Rafael Machado | 28-26 | Felipe Elias / Joao Schimming |
| Final | Jonathan Silva / Rafael Machado | 25-21 | Dani Mendonca / Pedro Lube |
