Big guns to volleyball grand prix finals<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Japan, Brazil and World champion Cuba were
\nassured of their berths in the world women's volleyball grand
\nprix finals in Shanghai, China this Friday, after completing
\nthree-weeks of hard-fought competition, yesterday.<\/p>\n
Despite yesterday's 1-3 loss to title holder Cuba, host China
\nreceived an automatic entry to the finals, giving them a chance
\nto compete for the winner's check of US$250,000. China finished
\nsecond behind Cuba last year.<\/p>\n
The other eight teams were the USA, South Korea, Russia,
\nGermany, Italy, Peru, the Netherlands and Chinese Taipei.
\nHowever, they fell by the wayside at the conclusion of the round-
\nrobin preliminary matches played in Asia's nine cities, the Hong
\nKong-based sport agent Spectrum reported.<\/p>\n
Cuban spikers completed their winning run in Guangzhou, China
\nwith a superb 15-17, 15-13, 15-7, 15-4 victory over the home
\nsquad, toppling them undefeated.<\/p>\n
A partisan home crowd gave China its second wind as it soared
\nto a 14-10 lead in the opening set. Cuba forced a deuce, but
\nspirited China went on to seal the set.<\/p>\n
China's shaky blocking, which cost it two losses to Brazil in
\ntwo straight weeks in Jakarta and Macau, was an Achilles' heel as
\nGato Idalmis and Luis Mirey's jumping smashes lead the Cuban
\ncharge in the next three sets.<\/p>\n
\"Our team just fell apart in the last two sets. We lack
\nconsistency and stamina,\" Chinese coach Li Xiao Feng said. He,
\nhowever, promised a better showing in the finals.<\/p>\n
In Fukuoka, Motoko Obayashi and Mika Yamauchi orchestrated
\nhost Japan to score a come-from-behind 13-15, 11-15, 15-5, 15-6,
\n15-12 win over Olympic bronze medalist Brazil in a do-or-die
\nmatch.<\/p>\n
The defeat gave Brazil a 7-2 record, equal to that of South
\nKorea and the U.S. The South Americans ended up making it into
\nthe final because it had a better sets ratio difference. (amd)<\/p>",
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