Rome, Italy, June 18 – Emanuel Rego and Alison Cerutti knocked out reigning champions Jonas Reckermann and Julius Brink to underline their credentials as favourites for the men’s title at the FIVB Swatch World Championships Rome 2011 powered by smart.

The Brazilians took advantage of an unusually subdued performance by the Germans to finish with a comfortable win, 21-15, 21-15 that sets up an all-Brazilian final on Sunday.

 “I think it was very surprising because when we came into the match we focused a lot on the fact that they had played really well in this event,” Emanuel said.

“Yesterday they knocked out the reigning Olympic champions (Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser, United States) and so we talked today about really focusing on being tough and really doing our best because they are the best team right now as they are the reigning champions.”

Second seeds Emanuel and Alison were installed as favourites after first seeds Rogers and Dalhausser lost to Reckermann and Brink in the last 16.

Reaching the final continues the pair’s current run of form after they won the two most recent events on the FIVB World Tour, in Beijing and Prague.

For Emanuel in particular it will be a memorable occasion. He won 2004 Olympic gold and the 2003 World Championship with opponent Ricardo Santos, whilst Ricardo’s teammate Marcio Araujo was world champion in 2005. 

“It is a big surprise for me to have two Brazilian teams in a final because one is going for the bronze medal and the other team is in the final,” Emanuel said.

“It is good for our country because we need this kind of motivation to keep the sport developing. In the last three years the Americans have got to the top during the Olympic Games and the World Championships.”

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