体坛英语新闻：Thailand demolishes Cuba for second win in Grand Prix Finals

NINGBO, Zhejiang Province, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Thailand romped past Cuba 3-0 here on Sunday for their second win at the women's volleyball Grand Prix Finals, while Cuba lost all their five matches at the tournament.

Following a thrilling 3-2 victory over hosts China, Thailand continued to show their consistency in the 25-22, 30-28, 25-23 defeat of Cuba.

Sittirak Onuma scored 19 points for Thailand to lead the game while Thinkaow Pleumjit and Apinyapong Wilavan added 11 each.

Allegne Yanelis Santos led Cuba with 15 points, Mendoze Yoana Palacios contributed 14 and Abel Ana Lidia Cleger 10.

Cuba started strongly with powerful serving and lethal spikes from the left wing by Santos and Mendoze Yoana Palacios to take a 5-1 lead in the opening set.

The Thai women, however, managed to keep positive poise with quick attacks at middle and strong service by wing spiker Onuma, while the Cubans' poor reception and spike errors got their way to keep the winning momentum. The Thais led into the second TTO 16-12.

Cuba tried to fight back as the Thai spiker Malika Kanthong retired from the court because of foot injury, but their serve errors cost them a fortune and Thailand get the set point 24-19. Cuba managed to save three set points, but an out-of-court spike from Rosell Wilma Salas sent the Thais to win the set.

It was hotly contested early in the second set before Thailand took an early lead at 11-9 with a kill from Wilavan. But Cuba soon recovered the deficit and overtook the lead as they rebuilt remarkable attacking and pushed the game to 22-19 on their soil.

But it was Thailand who got the set point first as they rallied to a 5-1 run to make it 24-23. Linares Sulian Matienzo contributed three points for Cuba to save three set points, but a cracking smash by Omuma sealed the victory for Thailand at 30-28.

The two sides fought even harder in the third set and their gap never exceeded two points before the more experienced Thailand took the match point at 24-23. As Onuma came from the outside to smash a ball home, Thailand took the match 25-23.