Hosts China made short work of six-time winners Brazil 3-0 for
their fourth straight win at the FIVB World Grand Prix Finals in
Beilun, East China on Sunday.
Following an opening loss to the Netherlands, China kept
bouncing back at the renowned event and finished second in the
final rankings on nine points after beating Brazil 25-21, 25-21,
25-13 at the Beilun Sports and Arts Center.
The three-times defending champions Brazil had to settle for a
disappointing fifth place in the six-strong round robin tournament
on 1-4 win-loss record.
After taking the opening set at 25-21, the Olympic champions
jumped to an early 5-3 lead in the second set, inspired by middle
blockers Ma Yunwen and Xue Ming, but it was Brazil that led into
the first TTO at 8-7.
Pequeno Paula and Castro Sheilla scored some impressive winners
to keep the points coming for Brazil, but the momentum was switched
to the other side when China built up a 23-19 cushion.
Sheilla spiked long to put China 24-20 ahead and Chinese captain
Zhou Suhong battered home on the second set point to make a match
of it at 25-21.
Veteran Yang Hao and Zhou spiked efficiently early in the third
set to fire China 4-0 up while Brazil seemed to be running out of
steam, making a string of unforced errors.
The first TTO then came with China ahead 8-3 while the Brazilian
team was seriously troubled with their shaky defense. China never
looked back en route to a 25-13 end.
(Xinhua News Agency August 27, 2007)
