Brazil, behind a short-haired looker who packs a devastating game, remained on course for its fourth World Women's Volleyball Grand Prix crown after carving out a 3-1 decision over powerhouse Cuba last night at the overflow PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
The 26-28, 25-17, 25-21, 25-23 triumph kept the Samba-loving Brazilians'
slate immaculate in the spikefest which will culminate in China this week.
The culmination event in Beijing will feature Brazil, Russia, China and
Italy in a battle royale among the world's best women's teams.
The capacity crowd erupted in jubilation after veteran Virna Dias sealed the Brazilian win with an awesome spike Cuban Ana Fernandez Valle could not deflect.
Brazil's victory over the reigning Olympic and world champion Cuba shoved Italy to the final four. The Italians capped their Manila stint with a 3-2 nailbiter of a win over Asian Games silver medal winner South Korea.
While focus was on 27-year old Leila Barros, named the league's best attacker, it was the steel nerves of Dias, voted as the Most Valuable Player, which greatly carried the Brazilians.
Dias scored 17 points in 78 attempts, while Janina Conceicao chipped in 15. Barros, who was grand prix's top player during the last two editions of the tournament, made 14.
The best libero award went
to Korean Choi Kwang Hee, while the tournament's top server was Italian
Francesca Piccinini and the best blocker plum went to Cuban Francia Mirka.
Both teams fought tooth and nail toward the tail end of the fourth set with Cuba managing to freeze the count at 23-all, but Barros scored one of her countless wallops prior to Virna's game-clincher.
The statuesque Blue Girls of Italy, getting premium support from the crowd, fashioned out a thrilling five-set victory over the shorter spikers of South Korea in the other match.
The Italians though had to be roused following a dismal first two wets, 13-25 and 22-25, before taking the next three, 26-24, 25-14 and 15-10, behind superb blocking and spiking prowess of 20-year old looker, Francesca Piccinini.
Italian head mentor Angiolino Frigoni said he was not sure whether or not the sassy Europeans responded to his tongue-lashing during the break entering the third canto.
"I don't know whether they
reacted to my angry words at the locker room after the first two sets.
Maybe they just responded well to my show of emotions," said Frigoni.
Text adapted from Today, August 23, 1999