Easy to talk. You have to be inside the court.
Por primera vez en su historia, Alianza Lima llega a un Mundial de Clubes de Vóley no solo como participante, sino como protagonista de una posibilidad real: avanzar a semifinales. El voleibol peruano, que nunca había ganado un partido en esta competencia, se encuentra ahora ante el umbral de algo más grande, enfrentando a uno de los clubes más poderosos del mundo en un escenario que pocos habrían imaginado posible. Es el tipo de momento que no se mide solo en sets ni en puntos, sino en lo que significa para una historia que recién comienza a escribirse.
- Alianza Lima llega al partido decisivo habiendo hecho historia: la primera victoria peruana en un Mundial de Clubes, conseguida ante Zhetysu VC de Kazajistán, transformó la narrativa del torneo.
- El rival es implacable: Savino del Bene de Italia no ha cedido ni un set en el torneo, y cuenta con Ekaterina Antropova, una de las mejores jugadoras del mundo con 40 puntos acumulados y oro olímpico reciente.
- La clasificación depende de una combinación frágil: Alianza debe ganar y esperar que Osasco pierda ante Zhetysu, con variantes matemáticas que cambian según el marcador exacto de cada partido.
- El equipo, construido con talento peruano y refuerzos internacionales de seis países, enfrenta este momento como la culminación de un proyecto que fue diseñado precisamente para este escenario.
- Pase lo que pase en la Arena de Pacaembu, el voleibol peruano ya cruzó una frontera que nunca había cruzado antes.
Alianza Lima llegó a São Paulo para disputar el partido más importante de su historia institucional. El jueves 11 de diciembre, a las 3 p.m. hora peruana, el club enfrentaría a Savino del Bene de Italia en el último partido de la fase de grupos del Mundial de Clubes de Vóley 2025, con la posibilidad real de avanzar a semifinales.
El camino hasta aquí no fue sencillo. Alianza perdió su primer partido ante Osasco São Cristóvão de Brasil sin ganar un solo set, pero dos días después venció 3-1 a Zhetysu VC de Kazajistán, convirtiéndose en el primer equipo peruano en ganar un partido en esta competencia. Ese resultado histórico las dejó terceras en el Grupo A, igualadas en puntos con Osasco pero por debajo en diferencia de sets.
Savino del Bene representaba un desafío de otra magnitud. El club italiano había ganado ambos partidos sin ceder un set, liderado por Ekaterina Antropova, opuesta de 2,01 metros con 40 puntos en el torneo, medalla de oro en París 2024 y campeona mundial en 2025. Era uno de los favoritos al título.
La clasificación era posible pero dependía de varios factores: si Alianza ganaba y Osasco perdía ante Zhetysu, avanzaba. Con victoria 3-0 o 3-1, podía sobrevivir incluso si Osasco ganaba 3-2. Una derrota 3-0 significaba eliminación directa.
El equipo dirigido por Facundo Morando combinaba jugadoras peruanas como las líberos Zahira Quiñe y Esmeralda Sánchez, la colocadora Doris Manco y la atacante Sandra Ostos, con refuerzos de Colombia, República Dominicana, Francia, Argentina y Estados Unidos. Meegan Hart y Maeva Orlé aportaban experiencia internacional en un plantel construido específicamente para este torneo.
Esmeralda Sánchez resumió el espíritu del grupo tras la victoria ante Kazajistán: "Somos el primer equipo peruano en ganar un partido en un Mundial. Este es el equipo que hemos venido construyendo todo este tiempo." La directora Cenaida Uribe fue igualmente directa: "Hay que estar dentro de la cancha para entenderlo. Estas son mujeres de carne y hueso. Hoy llegó la victoria y estamos muy felices."
Con o sin semifinales, Alianza Lima ya había cruzado un umbral que ningún club peruano había cruzado antes. La Arena de Pacaembu sería el escenario del siguiente capítulo.
Alianza Lima arrived in São Paulo for a match that could reshape the club's international standing. On Thursday, December 11th, at 3 p.m. Peruvian time, the team would face Savino del Bene of Italy in the final group-stage game of the 2025 Club World Volleyball Championship. For a Peruvian club competing in this tournament for the first time in its history, the stakes were unusually high.
The path to this moment had been improbable. In their opening match, Alianza lost decisively to Osasco São Cristóvão of Brazil, dropping all three sets. But two days later, they defeated Zhetysu VC of Kazakhstan 3-1—a result that made history. No Peruvian team had ever won a match at a Club World Championship before. That victory gave Alianza three points and placed them third in Group A, behind the undefeated Savino del Bene and level with Osasco on points but behind on set differential.
Savino del Bene was a different proposition entirely. The Italian club had won both its matches without dropping a single set. They were stacked with world-class talent, most notably Ekaterina Antropova, a 6-foot-7 opposite hitter who had already scored 40 points in the tournament. Antropova had won gold at the Paris Olympics and at the 2025 World Championship. Savino was among the favorites to win the entire competition.
Alianza's path to the semifinals was mathematically possible but narrow. If they beat Savino by any score and Osasco lost to Zhetysu, they would advance. If Alianza won 3-0 or 3-1, they could afford for Osasco to win 3-2 against Zhetysu. But there were also ways to lose and still survive: a 3-1 defeat would eliminate them unless Zhetysu beat Osasco 3-0. A 3-0 loss meant elimination no matter what happened elsewhere.
The team that would take the court was led by coach Facundo Morando and included players from across the region and beyond. The roster mixed Peruvian talent—liberos Zahira Quiñe and Esmeralda Sánchez, outside hitter Sandra Ostos, setter Doris Manco—with reinforcements from Colombia, the Dominican Republic, France, Argentina, and the United States. Meegan Hart, a central blocker from the U.S., and Maeva Orlé from France brought international experience. It was a team assembled specifically for this moment.
Esmeralda Sánchez, one of the team's leaders, spoke after the Kazakhstan victory with a mixture of pride and perspective. "We're happy with today's result," she said. "We came here for this experience. After our first match, the team changed quite a bit. We're the first Peruvian team to win a match at a World Championship. This is the team we've been building all this time." Cenaida Uribe, the team's director, was equally measured. "It's easy to talk," she said. "You have to be inside the court to understand it. These are women of flesh and blood. Today the victory came, so we're very happy."
The match against Savino would be the final test of their tournament. Win or lose, Alianza had already accomplished something unprecedented for Peruvian volleyball. But with a victory and the right result elsewhere, they could go further still. The Arena de Pacaembu in São Paulo would host the deciding moment.
Notable Quotes
We're the first Peruvian team to win a match at a World Championship. This is the team we've been building all this time.— Esmeralda Sánchez, Alianza libero
It's easy to talk. You have to be inside the court to understand it. These are women of flesh and blood.— Cenaida Uribe, Alianza director
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does this match matter so much for Alianza, beyond just the semifinals?
Because it's the first time a Peruvian club has ever competed at this level. They beat Kazakhstan—that alone was historic. But now they're facing the best team in their group, and if they win, they're not just advancing, they're proving Peru belongs here.
What's the realistic chance they beat Savino?
Savino hasn't lost a set yet. They have Ekaterina Antropova, who just won Olympic gold. On paper, Alianza is the underdog by a wide margin. But volleyball isn't always played on paper. Alianza already did something unexpected once.
So they need to win AND have Osasco lose?
Exactly. It's not just about beating Savino. Even if they win, they're watching another match, hoping Brazil loses to Kazakhstan. That's the hard part—the outcome isn't entirely in their hands.
Who are the key players for Alianza?
Esmeralda Sánchez and Zahira Quiñe are their liberos—the defensive anchors. Doris Manco runs the offense from the setter position. They also have Meegan Hart from the U.S. as a central blocker. It's a mixed roster, but they've been building chemistry all year.
What did the team say after beating Kazakhstan?
They were grounded about it. Esmeralda said it was the team they'd been working toward all season. Cenaida, the director, reminded people that these are real people, not machines. She said it's easy to criticize from outside, but you have to be on the court to understand the pressure.
What happens if they lose?
If they lose 3-0 or 3-1, they're out. A 3-1 loss only keeps them alive if Kazakhstan beats Osasco 3-0, which is unlikely. So really, they need to win, or they go home.