With its World Championship hopes hanging by a thread, Nuno Marques delivered the heroics Portugal desperately needed.
The veteran outside hitter powered his side to a thrilling 23-25, 21-25, 25-20, 25-21, 15-11 comeback over first-time participants Colombia on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, keeping Portugal’s Round of 16 dreams alive.
Trailing 0-2 after a slow start, Portugal roared back behind Marques’ 19-point masterclass — including 13 spikes, four blocks, and two aces — and the steady hand of Tiago Violas, whose entry in the third set sparked a turnaround.
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The World No.24 side relied on teamwork and timely execution to take the next three sets, turning the match into a tense decider.
Locked at 11-all in the fifth set, it was Marques who broke the deadlock with a crucial spike, followed by a Colombia error. Middle blocker Filip Cveticanin then closed out the contest with back-to-back hits.
The victory took two hours and 27 minutes and handed Portugal a 2-1 Pool D record, giving them a lifeline heading into the final group phase matchup.
“Pressure is something you cannot explain. It can be hard games or easy games, but when the pressure comes, you get stiff. That’s what happened to us in the first two sets,” said Portugal head coach João José.
“The team responded after the third set, and the game became much easier.”
Portugal now waits on the outcome of the USA versus Cuba, with a Cuban win eliminating the Europeans regardless of their performance.
Other contributors for Portugal included Jose Pinto with 16 points, Kelton Tavares and Cveticanin with 12 each, and Lourenco Martins adding 11.
Violas’ setting efficiency of 56.9-percent helped distribute scoring, allowing four teammates to reach double figures.
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For Colombia, making their World Championship debut, the valiant effort fell short.
Ronald Jimenez and Felipe Benavides led the charge with 18 points each, while captain Leandro Ararat added 13.
Despite the defeat, the South Americans leave the tournament with pride, especially after pushing Portugal to five sets in a memorable finale.
#WATCH: Nuno Marques shares how Portugal’s thrilling reverse sweep vs Colombia boosts their #MWCH2025 Round of 16 hopes! 🇵🇹🏐
📹 @justinvalencia_ /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/l2KURCZTna
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) September 17, 2025
