Cuba beats China on second day of FIVB Grand Prix final round

(BEIJING, July 10) -- Cuba improved to 2-0 in the final round of the FIVB World Grand Prix 2008 with a 25-21, 20-25, 26-24, 25-16 victory on Thursday that dropped China to 0-2.

Cuba, gold medalists at the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games, took an 8-6 lead into the first technical time-out (TTO) in the first set and then widened their lead to 16-11 by the second TTO. Though China threatened with a strong attack, Cuba held them off with timely blocks and successful attacks of their own, winning the set 25-21.

Led by the blocking of Chinese captain Feng Kun, the Chinese team played stronger in the second set, leading 16-14 at the second TTO. A timeout from the Cubans with China up 22-18 couldn't turn the tide and China clinched the set 25-20 with a spike by Zhou Suhong.

The third set was the closest of the match. Cuba called a time-out with the score knotted at 10 and led 16-13 at the second TTO. Though China was able to save one set point to tie the score at 24, the Cubans capitalized on the second, winning the set 26-24.

Cuba flexed its muscles in the fourth set, building a 16-10 lead at the second TTO and cruising to a 25-16 win sealed by a block on Chinese player Yang Hao.

"Today we played very well, especially on serve. It was really good, and that was the most important point of today's game," said head coach Antonio Perdomo after the match. "We were able to win before China could find their top form. In the Olympics, China must advance to the final, so we must be careful of them"

Cuba will face USA on Friday, while China will have to overcome the formidable Brazilians, who have yet to drop a set in the final round, to break their losing streak. The final round of the Grand Prix concludes on Sunday.