Three-time SWATCH FIVB World Tour Champions defeated by Mexican black horse

(BEIJING, June 12) -- At Wednesday's Main Draw competition on Berlin stop of the 2008 smart Grand Slam, Mexican pair of Mayra Garcia and Bibiana Candelas scored 30-32, 21-12 and 15-11 over three-time SWATCH-FIVB World Champions Juliana Felisberta Silva and Larissa Franca of Brazil in 54 minutes, as reported by the FIVB website.

"It was our concentration that got us through today," 36-year-old Garcia was quoted by FIVB as saying after the match, "We lost to Juliana and Larissa earlier this season in Korea because we were probably awed in playing the tour champions. This is a very good day for us, but tomorrow we will have to be focused and take advantage of today's successes."

The two wins guarantee the Mexican duo a top spot in Pool B to earn a first-round "bye" when the single-elimination bracket begins Thursday afternoon. Garcia and Candelas posted a seventh- and ninth-place finishes earlier this season, the best SWATCH FIVB World Tour placements that Mexicans ever achieved since 2003.