William Lobato and Lucas Paes Win Week 8 of the 2022 Pro Footvolley Tour, presented by Genius Sports
Lobato and Paes started 2021 as partners. The team played well; but couldn’t crack through and win a Title together. Eventually, the partnership came to an end with each finding new teammates, etc. This weekend, with their regular partners out of commission, Paes and Lobato gave it a go once again. This time, they left as Champions.
On a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon, with barely a breeze, the conditions for footvolley couldn’t have been more ideal. Tour stars took full advantage. In what was somewhat unexpected, after a few upsets, former Team USA Captain Sergio Menezes alongside Gabriel Sodre faced William Lobato and Lucas Paes in the Championship Match. The favorites would win rather easily.
‘With so many Challenge Matches (where you switch partners, etc.) we were a bit tired at the Final and Lobato/Paes are way younger! They deserved to win. It showed!’
– Gabriel Sodre on the Championship loss
‘I think Will went undefeated all weekend (in Mixed Doubles and Challenge games) – and then in the Pro Final he is still 100%. The kid is a beast. Happy with the win!’
– Lucas Paes on Winning Week 8
Lobato didn’t go undefeated as he did lose in an exciting match ‘Beach Soccer’ vs ‘Footvolley’ where he played US Beach Soccer star Danielle Kovacevic against former Team USA Captain Sergio Menezes and Gabriel Sodre.
‘Dude, we almost lost. Lobato is on another level; but sanity prevailed. We weren’t going to lose that match. Not in a million years.’
– Sergio Menezes after the Mixed Match versus Lobato/Kovacevic
Lucas Paes Shark Attack attempt- Challenge Match with Martin Girotto vs Will Lobato / Martin Pache
On Saturday, collegiate footballers from local St. Thomas University took part in a College King of the Beach tournament with current Tour athletes currently still enrolled in college: Caio Brandao, Gabriel Sodre, Luiz Guerra, and Matheus Soares.
‘I started footvolley in College – it’s the perfect time to pick it up. We are only doing our part to grow the sport – now it’s up to these guys to keep training’
– Caio Brandao after the College Challenge on Saturday
As expected, Gabriel Sodre – a regular on the Pro Footvolley Tour – won the King of the Beach Collegiate edition with only one loss in the tournament. The newcomers welcomed into the collegiate competition were Nicolas Bertuliet, Juan Manuel Collazo, and Vinicius Carmel. All three play at St. Thomas University. They showed excellent composure and technique for first timers. A bright future ahead for these future footvollers!
Shots from Saturday’s College King of the Beach competiton …
Carlos Montemor giving instructions to Juan Manuel Collazo
Vinicius Carmel and Caio Brandao
