Cuba spikers likely to dominate volleyball GP
JAKARTA (JP): World champion Cuba arrived yesterday for the Women's World Volleyball Grand Prix championship, parading its all-conquering spikers in a bid to maintain its winning tradition.
Buoyed by their triumph in the championship's opening leg in Honolulu last week, the Cubans look invincible to spike their way to a double here.
"We are in our best shape to win the tournament here," Cuban coach Eugenio George said through his interpreter. Cuba's 18- strong team beat China and the United States on its way to the winner's US$175,000 cash prize in Honolulu.
The South American side, with seasoned spiker Mireya Luis and towering server Regla Torres on their inspiring role, is grouped with China, South Korea and Russia in the Aug. 25 to Aug. 27 tournament at the Senayan indoor stadium.
The 1993 Most Valuable Player Luis and company will start their campaign against Russia on Friday.
"These will be tough matches since all the teams which qualify for the Grand Prix are in the same league," George said. However, he expressed guarded optimism that his squad could claim the title in the finals in Shanghai, China next September.
Cuba won the inaugural grand prix tournament in 1993, but fell short of Brazil's devastating prowess in the 1994 finals, which were also in Shanghai. Cuba made amends for the upset loss with a five-set victory over host Brazil in the world championship in Belo Horizonte last year.
The grand prix championship series pits the world's top eight teams, which are split into two groups. They play round-robin matches in four legs, with two top teams in each group qualifying for the finals.
The other group will be held in Taipei at the same time as Jakarta, featuring defending champion Brazil, the U.S., Japan and Germany.
The winner in each leg receives $175,000 in cash. A whopping $525,000 prize money awaits the triumphant team in the finals.
Indonesia was named to play host to one of the series for the second successive year.
New faces
Asian volleyball powerhouse China also arrived yesterday, but coach Lang Ping refused to make a prematch boast. "We bring new faces here just to learn from our experienced opponents," a down- to-earth Lang said.
"Cuba is undoubtedly the strongest team, while South Korea and Russia are rivals tough to beat," Lang added. China finished third in the previous leg in Honolulu.
The Chinese team, which will qualify for the grand finals as the host, includes 11 spikers who are making their championship debut.
China, led by Olympian Lai Yawen, will start its round-robin matches against fellow Asian side South Korea which finished second behind Brazil in the previous leg in Bela Horizonte.
Russia and Asian Games champion South Korea are expected to arrive today. (amd)