Brazil turned on the power when they needed to as they secured a 3-0 victory over Czech Republic in Pool F of the FIVB Volleyball World Championship for Men in Hiroshima on Sunday.
Still looking for the consistency they need to successfully defend their crown, Brazil were nevertheless too strong for the Czechs in their 25-22, 25-20, 26-24 victory, which takes their Pool F win-loss record to 4-1.
The Czech Republic fall to 0-5, which includes the matches they lost in Pool C in Nagano.
Brazil, who emerged top of Pool B in Fukuoka, found themselves trailing in the first two sets before finding the urgency to play their best volleyball.
It was only in the third set that they were able to dictate play, having had to chase the game for the previous two sets, though they still allowed the Czechs to come back at them and briefly take the lead.
The Czech Republic's Peter Platenik was making an early nuisance of himself on the left as far as Brazil was concerned as they called time-out after the Czechs raced to a 6-2 lead.
That appeared to knock Czech Republic out of their stride as Brazil fought back to 6-7. But the Czechs had the last say before the first TTO after Brazil captain Ricardo Garcia, making a rare attacking attempt, hit his spike long.
Bulky Czech Martin Lebl made a huge statement by making a brilliant block on Gilberto "Giba" Godoy as the Europeans sped to 10-6- in front before Andre Heller could reply for Brazil.
Jiri Popelka was also slamming them down for the Czechs as they ignored a noisy Brazil-friendly crowd, who would jeer ferociously whenever they served, to go into the second technical time-out 16-12 ahead on Ondrej Hudecek's spike from the right.
But Brazil kept on battling away and Giba made two successive plays to bring his side back to 20-20.
Brazil took the lead for the first time in the match at 21-20 from a block on Platenik and they soon brought up three set points on Anderson's ace.
The Czech Republic saved one before Giba powered a winner from the right to give Brazil the set.
Hudecek and Giba traded blows as the second set got underway, while Heller dominated the middle for Brazil. But it was the Czechs who could boast an 8-6 first TTO lead on Popelka spike from the left.
Brazil eventually caught the Czechs at 10-10 but a couple of errors had Brazil trailing again, at 14-12. Giba brought them level, the third time Brazil had to catch up in the set, but he couldn't stop the Czechs taking a 16-15 lead into the second TTO.
It stayed as a one-point set until Hudecek's error put Brazil 21-19 up. Just as in the first set, it appeared Brazil deliberately waited until the crucial home stretch to stamp their authority.
Indeed, a Czech error took Brazil 23-19 ahead and Platenik sent one high and wide to give the South Americans five set points.
Platenik completed a miserable set when he hit his serve into the net to hand Brazil a two-sets lead.
It was a more cohesive Brazil who came out for the third set, quickly establishing a 5-2 buffer that sent the Czechs into an early time out.
However, Brazil then needed a time out after they allowed their opponents to fight back to 7-5, with Marek Novotny inspiring the Czechs.
Giba's soft touch on the left helped Brazil to an 8-5 lead and the Olympic champions then went 10-7 in front before the Czechs started to fight back.
Platenik's block on Rodrigues brought the Czechs back to 12-11 but Amaral's round-armer sent Brazil into the second TTO with a 16-14 advantage.
Heller spiked wide after a furious rally to help the Czechs lock it at 16-16 as they tracked Brazil until 19-19 before a Giba error gave the European side the lead.
Rodrigues and Amaral were forced to equalise for Brazil as the teams edged towards 23-23. Rodrigues gave Brazil match point but Popelka forced deuce.
Rodrigues gave them another set point and this time, Endres blocked to give Brazil victory.
