Benfica claim fourth straight national title as Portuguese legend Lopes announces retirement

Sport LISBOA e Benfica have crowned themselves Portuguese men’s national champions for the fourth straight year – and eleventh time in their history – after recording a 3-0 (25-18, 25-16, 26-24) victory in the fifth and last game of the championship series with A.J. FONTE BASTARDO in the Liga Una Seguros.

Brazilian André Aleixo (aka Japa) from SL Benfica and Venezuelan Edson Valencia Gonzalez from Fonte Bastardo were the top scorers of this final match, chipping in with 16 and 11 points, respectively. The ‘Eagles’ from Lisbon completed the double, after earlier this season they had edged the very same opponent in the final of the Portuguese Cup held at the Cultural Centre of Viana do Castelo.

In a fitting time for celebration, veteran André Lopes announced his retirement from competitive sport at the age of 40. The outside hitter played the last game of a career lasting 24 years, with as many as 13 spent wearing the shirt of Benfica. Lopes helped Portugal win the 2010 edition of the CEV European League, is a seven-time national champion, winner of the Portuguese Cup as many as nine times – and his CV includes seven titles from the Portuguese Supercup as well as many individual awards from domestic and international competitions.

A.J. FONTE BASTARDO, who were national champions in 2010/2011 and 2015/2016, raised their first Super Cup back on October 1, 2022, before reaching the semis of the CEV Challenge Cup.