TOKYO, Dec 3: All-conquering Brazil successfully defended their men’s World Cup volleyball title on Sunday when they brushed aside Japan to win the four-yearly tournament.

With a 23-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-18 victory, the South American champions finished top in the 12-team round robin competition with a 10-1 win-loss record to add to their other major titles at the world championships and the Olympics.

Earlier in the day, bronze medallists Bulgaria outgunned Argentina 25-17, 25-22, 25-23, while Russia edged past the United States 25-23, 20-25, 22-25, 25-17, 15-8.

The top three finishers at the World Cup have qualified for the Olympics.

Russia and Bulgaria ended with the same 9-2 record but the Russians took the silver medal thanks to a better points ratio of 899-742 (1.212) against Bulgaria’s 988-881 (1.121), ahead of the Americans in fourth place with 8-3.

European champions Spain beat Tunisia 25-16, 25-22, 21-25, 25-18 to take fifth place, followed by Puerto Rico in sixth place after they lost to South Korea 21-25, 25-18, 26-24, 20-25, 15-8.

Argentina were seventh and Asian champions Australia eighth after a surprise defeat at the hands of African champions Egypt 25-14, 23-25, 25-21, 25-22. —AFP