Tough at the top of
Pool B
 Havana,
Cuba, June 24, 2005 – Cuba and Italy
will play two games on Friday and
Saturday at Havana’s Ciudad Deportiva
Hall in their attempt to keep the lead
of Pool B of the 2005 World League
Intercontinental Round.
Roberto García, the head coach of the
home team, said that the first match is
the key and his players are ready to do
their best on court to win.
“Mathematically, this group is not
decided, obviously, a 2-0 or a 1-1 split
against Italy will put us in a better
position to qualify for the final,” he
added after confirming the list of 12
players.
He admitted that “we had some
difficulties against Bulgaria last week,
but we managed to beat them and won the
second match, but we faced one of the
best team in the world.”
Pic: In round two Cuba and Italy
split both their matches
The Italian head coach, Gian Paolo
Montalli, praised the evolution of the
young Cuban players. “They have made
great progress in just one year,” he
said.
He highlighted World League top scorer
and second best server Raydel Poey, as
well as Osmany Juantorena and Odelvis
Dominico, who have been key players in
the Cuban performance so far.
“To play well is my only strategy to
beat our rivals in these two matches,”
Montali added, who regretted the absence
of spikers Alessandro Fei and Cristian
Savani due to injury.
“However, I am always excited to be able
to be able to play in the usually
crowded Ciudad Deportiva. Whatever the
result might be, it is very exciting to
play in front of 15.000 people.”
Italy and Cuba both have five wins and
three losses so far in Pool B, but the
home team have their nose in front
courtesy of a better set average (19-13)
compared to Italy’s 18-16.
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