Dutch star admits teams ‘jealous’ of Japan’s game

Netherlands in the Volleyball Nations League at Mall of Asia Arena. Marlo Cueto/INQUIRER.net

The Netherlands’ Maarten Van Garderen didn’t hide how much he appreciates the way Japan plays, even though in all likelihood, the Dutch’s chances of progressing deep into the final week of the men’s Volleyball Nations League rests on the result of their match against the unbeaten Japanese.

“A lot of countries are jealous of their game,” the 6-foot-5 Van Garderen said, moments after a sparkling performance that helped the Netherlands carve out a 25-22, 25-22, 17-25, 25-18 win over Canada at Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday that kept the Dutch inside the circle of eight teams that will advance to the knockout stages.

“Japan is fast and very technical,” he added. “This has been a long tournament and we have traveled all over the world. They could be tired right now and I am looking forward to playing them.”

Save for a momentary loss of focus that allowed Canada to break away early and win the third set, the Dutch were in control for most of the two-hour match with skipper Nimir Abdel-Aziz a relentless offensive force and the Netherlands’ defense unwilling to budge.

“This is a really important match for us in our hopes of qualifying,” Abdel-Aziz said after scattering 24 points built around 22 kills, a performance that endeared him to the lean crowd that waited patiently to get selfies and autographs.

“We slowed down a bit [in the third set] and they (Canadians) raised their game up a notch,” Abdel-Aziz said of their horrid third frame effort.

The Netherlands rose to 5-4 for eighth spot as it tries to fend off France and Serbia in the final four playdates to secure a spot in the final week to be played in Poland.

Champion’s purse

The Netherlands’ Nimir Abdel Aziz during a game against Canada at the VNL. MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Only the top eight in the 16-team field will advance to the quarterfinals, and should the current standings hold until Sunday, Abdel-Aziz, Van Garderen and the Dutch will be slugging it out with the No. 1 Japanese in the first round.

“I think we were very strong mentally today,” Van Garderen, whose final point was an attempt off a double block that sailed wide for 24-18 in the fourth, said. “We didn’t play our best even if we wanted to come out hard. The important thing for us is that (with this result) we know we can win.

“There are a lot of strong teams here, but we know we can beat anyone of them.”

The Dutch return to the floor in less than 24 hours to play Brazil, which is running fourth with a 6-3 record, at 11 a.m. before they battle the Japanese on Friday at 7 p.m.

They close out their schedule against Slovenia on Sunday.

“We need to win at least one (of the next two games), that’s for sure,” Abdel-Aziz said for the Netherlands to stay alive in the race and have a chance to snagging the champion’s purse of $1.5 million (around P84 million).