Brazil spikers notch second GP victory
JAKARTA (JP): Brazil reversed its 1-11 second-set deficit to nail a straight-set 15-9, 15-13, 15-7 victory over a rising Netherlands at the Women's World Volleyball Grand Prix here yesterday.
It was the second win for Brazil, which on Friday downed the world best defensive team, South Korea, also in straight sets 17- 16, 16-14, 15-7.
In the other match yesterday, the United States' 3-2 win over South Korea saved its weakening reputation and delighted its Indonesian supporters, who packed the Senayan Indoor Stadium, shouting "USA! USA!"
The five-set 10-15, 9-15, 15-12, 15-11, 15-12 win seemed to restore the defending champion's self-confidence, which had been shaken after its 3-2 loss to the Netherlands on Friday.
In the other first leg in Sendai, Japan, China notched its second straight victory yesterday by edging host Japan 3-2, while Cuba downed Russia 3-1. On Friday, China whipped Olympic gold medalist Cuba 3-0 and Russia defeated Japan 3-1.
For Brazil, that particular second set worked like a miracle. After a close first set, which saw the remarkable killing serves of the Netherlands' Elles Leferink, Brazil entered the second set as if a ship in the doldrums.
The butchering duet of the Netherlands' Leferink and Riette Fledderus looked unstoppable as they brilliantly and easily reduced Brazil into an obedient receiver. The Netherlands soon raced to a commanding 11-1 lead, silencing the horrendous Brazilian fans, who won support from their Indonesian counterparts.
But things became completely different when Brazil's Virna Dias and Leila Barros stepped into the scene. Dias served with confidence and retrieved with great anticipation while the beautiful Barros was clever at spotting the Dutchwomen's unguarded field. Brazil's other girls, such as Hilma Caldeira and Ana Connely, also contributed their own shares.
Now points rose rapidly for Brazil. The Netherlands' duo of Leferink and Fledderus, however, seemed to lose steam, and this made it easier for a more solid Brazilian teamwork to disarray them.
"We made too many mistakes. We didn't know what to do," said Dutch head coach Bert Goedkoop after the match. Brazil's head coach Bernardo Rezende, on the other hand, said that the secret of winning the second set was that "We just held on. We just kept playing. We won because we were more experienced."
Today is the Jakarta leg's last day. Unbeaten Brazil will take on the U.S., while South Korea will face the Netherlands.
Meanwhile, in Sendai, Olympic silver medalist China had to face a vociferous crowd for their 10-15, 15-12, 15-10, 9-15, 15- 11 victory.
In the second match at the Sendai municipal gymnasium, Cuba came from behind to beat Russia 5-15, 15-11, 15-10, 15-12. (arf)