Toronto, Canada, September 16, 2016 - Talita Antunes and Larissa Franca continued their winning ways at a SWATCH FIVB World Tour Finals event as the Brazilians advanced to the semi-finals with a quarter-final win here Friday afternoon over Ana Gallay and Georgina Klug of Argentina on Polson Pier.
In playing the Argentina pair for only the second-time on the FIVB World Tour, Talita and Larissa scored a 2-0 (21-17, 21-17) win in 35 minutes. The two teams had not played each other since July 2014 where the Brazilian won at an international stop in the United States in southern California.
Talita and Larissa are the defending SWATCH FIVB World Tour Finals champions after winning six-straight matches last October at the event in the United States on Fort Lauderdale Beach in south Florida.
Talita Antunes - "I think we played so good, focused because Argentina, they are talking during the match and we have to focus, don’t lose our mind when they do this."
"It’s not easy, it’s hard at the end of the season but it’s hard to do 100 percent. But we’re so happy we’re playing in the semifinals. It’s fun, it’s the best tournament so we’re just happy."
"I think these are the best teams. All the time we play against them, Germany, the U.S., the other Brazil, all the time we play I remember the Olympics. I think it’s because the best teams got to the semifinals."
(on the gold medal match moving to Sunday) "For us it’s OK. It’s no problem. My flight is on Sunday so we’ll just have to change the flight but that’s OK, Toronto is a good city, we are playing in a good tournament. So Sunday is good for us. Just put the ball on the court and let’s play."
Larissa Franca - (on the fans) "I think it’s very special. I like the people. They travel we’re together and we’re very happy here.
"Every time we think about this, enjoy the game. This is special for us."