Brazil beats China 3-1 to remain unbeaten at World GP Finals
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-07-11 15:48

YOKOHAMA, Japan - World No. 1 Brazil beat China 3-1 at the Yokohama Arena here on Friday to remain unbeaten at the World Grand Prix Finals women's volleyball tournament.


Zhao Ruirui (second left) delivers a spike as Brazilian players try to block in the women's volleyball match at the Yokohama leg of the FIBV Grand Prix on Friday. Brazil defeated China 3-1. [Xinhua]

"I am very happy for the victory, all our players did a very good job," said Brazil head coach Jose Roberto Guimaraes. "But we have to keep in mind that this tournament is only warm-up for the Olympic Games, we still have a long way to go."

The six-time Grand Prix winners, who were obviously in top form, had no great trouble taking their third straight win in the six-team round robin 25-18, 25-16, 21-25 and 25-18.

It's also Brazil's second victory over the reigning Olympic champion following a 3-0 rout in the preliminary round in Macao on Sunday.

"We found a lot of problems through this tournament," said China head coach Chen Zhonghe. "We could not play to our standard and every player of our team was really tested physically."

"But I will not care too much about the results of this tournament, while it is more important for us to make adjustments accordingly so that we can play our best at the Olympic Games."

The Chinese women, who had gathered on the first day of the year for their Olympic training camp, appeared to run out of stamina in the first two sets as they were totally out-matched by the Brazilian team.

Brazil used a 9-1 run to go up 20-11 and cruised to the victory in the opening set.  In the second, China stayed within 10-8, but the Brazilians steadily pulled away for a comfortable cushion at 21-13 and went on to make it two sets to nil.

The Chinese recollected themselves in the third set and Ma Yunwen came from the bench to score nine points to help them pull one set back.

In the fourth set, Brazil took the control again, pulling away from a 8-all draw and never looked back.

"We concentrated very well in the first two sets and our counter-attack was very effective," said Brazil captain Fofao. "In the third set the combinations became inaccurate, and this was the factor in losing the third set."

Marianne Steinbrecher led Brazil with 19 points and Paula Pequeno and Walewska Oliveira added 17 and 16 respectively.