|
Nagoya, Japan, 19 November, 2001 -Cuba outclassed and
outplayed Olympic and European champion Yugoslavia in
straight sets 25:20, 25:22, 25:23 on the first day of
the men's leg of the US$2 million World Grand Champions
Cup in Nagoya, central Japan, Tuesday.
It was always going to be one of the matches of the
tournament, Cuba defeating Yugoslavia 3-2 the last time
the two teams met at the World League in June. Both
teams are at full strength at this tournament, but no
one expected the potency of the NORCECA champion's
onslaught.
Big serves, storming spikes and huge blocks was the
fashion of the day, but Yugoslavia simply had no answers
to stop 1.98m B. Leonel Marshall and 1.93m Dennis Angel,
who took control from the start to the end.
Marshall wrapped up the spectacular display of men's
volleyball sending a missile over the European's
triple-block to claim an astonishing straight-set win,
in a match that could decide the final placing of this
single round robin tournament.
The win sets up two all-important clash between Cuba
and South American champion Brazil on Thursday, and
Brazil and Yugoslavia on Saturday, the second last day
of competition.
Brazil had little difficulty finishing off
Asian champion Korea in four sets earlier in the day,
25:21, 25:21, 19:25, 25:19, but they did not have the
fluid rhythm or speed they displayed at the World
League.
"Cuba have been together all year, and
Yugoslavia has its Olympic starting line-up here - we
got together as a team for this competition the day
before we left (Brazil)," said Brazilian head coach
Bernardo Rezende after the match.
Brazil is also weakened by the loss of three of its
key players: star attacker Gilberto Godoy Filho 'Giba',
middle blocker Gustavo Endres and libero Sergio
Santos.
In the final match of the day, host nation Japan came
from behind twice to defeat a young and spirited
Argentinean team that featured primarily its world
junior line-up. The five set 24:26, 25:21, 21:25, 25:17,
15-13 win delighted the partisan fans in the sold-out
Rainbow Hall. "We made a miracle," said
Japanese head coach Mikiyasu Tanaka of the win.
The tournament continues Wednesday with Cuba v Korea,
Brazil v Argentina and Japan v Yugoslavia. Thursday 22
is a rest day with the final three days to be held in
Tokyo's Metropolitan Gym from Friday 23 and Sunday 25
November. End. Set scores will be updated live at
www.fivb.org
|
