Russia rules Manila leg

After a masterful performance in China, Russia did even better in Manila, making another big step towards a possible return to the zenith of power in the Women’s World Grand Prix.

It was as if the Russian "devushkas" (lasses) played the Russian roulette on the opposition at the Araneta Coliseum, gunning down one after another the German "Frauleins", the Japanese "Fujians", and finally the Brazilian volleybelles.

Russia capped its Manila stint with a 25-21, 25-15, 25-21 thrashing of Brazil last night for another leg championship worth $40,000 and, more importantly, an added boost for its bid for the Grand Prix crown worth $200,000.

Japan, sustaining the momentum of its tough stand against two-time titlist Russia Saturday, stunned European power Germany, 28-26, 25-21, 25-19, to grab second place in the Grand Prix Manila stop presented by PAGCOR and sponsored by San Mig Light, Agfa Film, Red Bull Energy Drink, PCSO, the Philippine Sports Commission and Adidas with support from The Philippine Star, Philippine Tourism Authority, St. Monique-Valaise, Filmal Realty, Purefoods, Dari Crème Light, Nextel, Viva Mineral Water, Citibank, Kleenex and Kotex.

More importantly, Japan’s first win in its last five games kept the team in the hunt for a slot for the final round set in Hong Kong in August.

Japan, Brazil and Germany actually finished with similar 1-2 win-loss cards here but the Japanese gained first runner-up honors with superior sets won-lost ratio. The Brazilians were third and the Germans fourth.

Individual awards went to Japan’s Sano Yuko (best libero), another Japanese Miyaki Takahashi (best server and star of the Grand Prix), yet another Japanese Sachiko Kodama (best setter) and Angelina Gruen of Germany (darling of the crowd).

Going into the third and final round in Macau and Taipei, Russia is still unscathed with six wins, Brazil sports a 4-2 win-loss record, Germany holds a 3-3 mark and Japan carries a 2-4 slate.

Putting Germany’s dreaded attackers Angelina Gruen and Olessya Kulakova in check by practically erecting a fortress at the net, the Japanese lasses scored the mind-boggling reversal of the Germans to the delight of the predominantly pro-Japan cheering crowd at the Big Dome.

That ended Japan’s slump following a triumphant debut against Thailand in Tokyo, and the Japanese were hopeful that could serve as a springboard for a rally in the third round

But the volleybelles from the Land of the Rising Sun admitted they’re in for a tougher grind in the third round where they are to play reigning champion United States, Russia and Cuba in Taipei. Germany, China, Thailand and Brazil will play the third round in Macau.

"The Germans just played bad and that‚’s the story of the game," said Japan coach Masahiro Yoshikawa, through an interpreter, after they got even with the Germans who defeated them also in straight sets in their first meeting in Tokyo.

German coach Hee Wan Lee, a Korean, said they badly missed the services of two key players as they suffered a big downfall following a surprise demolition of Brazil Saturday. Attacker Birgit Thumm stayed in her hotel room with a fever while starting tosser Beatrice Doemeland sat out the third set due to an injured right hand.

But despite the absence of Thumm, Hee thought the game could have gone the other way had they salvaged the opening set.

The Germans pounded crucial lapses by the Japanese in making a big run to gain two matchpoints at 24-23 and 26-25. But the Japanese refused to give up the set, winning it at 28-25 on attacks by ace player Miyuki Takahashi and Ai Otomo and a block by Otomo on Kulakova.

Then the Japanese simply stoked the fire of that set-point in the next two sets, riding high on the brilliant ball-receiving of libero Chikako Kumamae, steady playmaking of setter Sachiko Kodama and furious attacks by Takahashi, Otomo and Makiko Horai.

Takahashi, who emerged as among the new crowd darlings for Filipino fans, scored 21 points with 17 on attacks and four on service aces. Otomo had 13, Horai 10 and Sachiko Sugiyama eight.

Gruen, one of the top players in Europe today, was held to 16 points on 15-of-35 attacking percentage plus one ace. Kulakova added 15 points.