Big guns to volleyball grand prix finals

JAKARTA (JP): Japan, Brazil and World champion Cuba were assured of their berths in the world women's volleyball grand prix finals in Shanghai, China this Friday, after completing three-weeks of hard-fought competition, yesterday.

Despite yesterday's 1-3 loss to title holder Cuba, host China received an automatic entry to the finals, giving them a chance to compete for the winner's check of US$250,000. China finished second behind Cuba last year.

The other eight teams were the USA, South Korea, Russia, Germany, Italy, Peru, the Netherlands and Chinese Taipei. However, they fell by the wayside at the conclusion of the round- robin preliminary matches played in Asia's nine cities, the Hong Kong-based sport agent Spectrum reported.

Cuban spikers completed their winning run in Guangzhou, China with a superb 15-17, 15-13, 15-7, 15-4 victory over the home squad, toppling them undefeated.

A partisan home crowd gave China its second wind as it soared to a 14-10 lead in the opening set. Cuba forced a deuce, but spirited China went on to seal the set.

China's shaky blocking, which cost it two losses to Brazil in two straight weeks in Jakarta and Macau, was an Achilles' heel as Gato Idalmis and Luis Mirey's jumping smashes lead the Cuban charge in the next three sets.

"Our team just fell apart in the last two sets. We lack consistency and stamina," Chinese coach Li Xiao Feng said. He, however, promised a better showing in the finals.

In Fukuoka, Motoko Obayashi and Mika Yamauchi orchestrated host Japan to score a come-from-behind 13-15, 11-15, 15-5, 15-6, 15-12 win over Olympic bronze medalist Brazil in a do-or-die match.

The defeat gave Brazil a 7-2 record, equal to that of South Korea and the U.S. The South Americans ended up making it into the final because it had a better sets ratio difference. (amd)