Powered by a looker of a spiker in Leila Barros, the Brazilians go into
their game against Italians riding the momentum of a three-game sweep of
the Macau stop of the cash-rich series.
FOR Brazil, another venue to keep its amazing streak going. For Cuba, a chance for redemption.
Amid a local fervor never seen before, global superpowers Brazil and Cuba launch their campaigns against separate opponents in the World Grand Prix Women's Volleyball Championship kicking off today at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
All eyes will be on the red-hot Brazilians who will tackle the unpredictable Italians in the main game at 7:30 p.m. as the samba-loving lasses try to further stretch what has been a winning season.
Powered by a looker of a spiker in Leila Barros, the Brazilians go into
their game against Italians riding the momentum of a three-game sweep of
the Macau stop of the cash-rich series.
The Macau sweep followed a big victory by Brazil in the Pan-American Games that assured them of a seat in the Sydney Olympics next year.
The Cubans, meanwhile, are out to regain lost pride and planed in this week smarting from a 0-3 performance in Macau so uncharacteristic of a team which is the reigning world and Olympic champions.
Revenge will be their main motive when the Cubans tackle Asian power South Korea in the opening match at 5:30 p.m. of the three-day tourney organized by the Philippine Amateur Volleyball Association.
Taking a rare setback from a non-Western nation is a bitter pill to swallow for the Cubans and that loss to Korea is expected to inspire the members of the world's top-ranked team to prove their worth.
The Cubans are badly in need of sweeping their three matches here to stay in contention for one of the three slots for the grand finals slated next week in Beijing.
The event is sponsored by Pagcor, PCSO, Honda Cars, Isuzu Phils., Solahart, Citgo Phils., Nextel, Aqua Fina, Gatorade, the Department of Tourism, Century Park Hotel, Triple V and U-Bix, Taraflex, SSS, Mikasa, Shell Velocity and Casino Filipino.
Expected to be on hand for the opening ceremonials
are San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada, honorary chair of the organizing committee
and top officials of the PAVA led by Louie Gepuela and Benny Gopez and
the international body for volleyball, FIVB.
Text adapted from The Philippine Daily Inquirer Interactive, August 20, 1999