Big guns to volleyball grand prix finals

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)