Despite a narrow 3-2 defeat to Cuba, the
recently-strength-recovered Chinese women's volleyball team claimed
ultimate victory at a four-nation tournament on Sunday in Wuxi,
Jiangsu Province.
Cuba, who also had two wins and a loss, was placed in the second
spot due to a defeat to Holland - a team who had suffered a rout to
China.
China managed a flying start, and after finishing the first two
games with double 25-20, they assured local supporters that they
were about to win the trophy with a faultless record.
However, the diligent Cubans, the former world number one women
volleyball squad, showed their great potential, echoing the
fabulous comeback achieved by China in the Athens Olympics final -
where the Chinese rallied from 2-0 down to a 3-2 victory.
The two sides traded scores in the third game. A successful
block and a smash put Cuba into a 20-18 lead, before the team hit
back with an identical 25-20.
China failed to get back on track and botched a 4-2 lead before
the score was leveled 8-8 in the fourth. Riding a wave of emotion,
the invigorated Cubans overtook their Chinese hosts to win the game
and bring the match to a decider.
The battered Chinese seemed having lost morale and patience in
the tie-breaker, conceding their lead to the rivals for the rest of
the game before a 15-11 loss.
(CRI.cn May 28, 2007)