World’s top volley belles begin quest

Local fans will be treated to top-notch volleyball action as the Samsung FIVB World Grand Prix Women’s Volleyball gets going today with a pair of matches pitting the Leila Barros-led Brazilian team against Dominican Republic and a tall, talented Poland squad going up against Korea at the Philsports Arena.

The 32-year-old Barros, easily one of the most popular international sports figures to ever play here, hopes to re-display the talent and skills, plus the charm that endeared her to the millions of Filipino fans when she first played here in 1999.

Gametime is at 5 p.m. after the 3:30 p.m. opening rites.

Joining Barros in the forefront of Brazil’s campaign are setter Fernanda Venturini, Erica Coimbra and veteran Virna Dias.

After retiring and marrying Bernardo Rezende in 1999, the highly experienced Venturini, who last wore the green and yellow in the 1998 World Championship, is on a mission to teach the new players on the Brazil bench.

"My concern goes now to help the young players, give them my experience and composure," said Venturini.

Despite lacking a charmer like Barros in its line-up, Dominican Republic has an ample supply of talent ready to challenge the attacking skills of Brazil’s number eight.

The champions of the 14th Pan Am Games has a competitive squad composed of Yudelkys Bautista, Annerys Vargas, Milagros Cabral Dela Cruz, Kenia Moreta, Cosiris Rodriguez, Juana Gonzalez, Priscila Rivera, Alexandra Casso and Evelyn Carrera.

Bautista, the Pan Am Games MVP, is one of the most experienced hands in coach Jorge Garbey’s rotation, having the most number of World Championship appearances.

Dela Cruz, another MVP material, will be in charge of keeping the Brazilian defense in their toes with her high leaping ability and powerful spikes.

Equally explosive is the match-up of Poland and Korea at 7pm.

Poland, dubbed underdog in this tournament, will challenge the only Asian country participating in this four-nation event organized by the Philippine Volleyball Federation.

After topping the Women’s European Volleyball Championship, coach Andrzej Niemczyk is optimistic that his players will put up a good fight against the Koreans.

Having earned a slot at the Olympics, Korea is bent on not just winning but using every international exposure such as the World Grand Prix in preparation for its stint in next month’s Athens Olympic Games.

" We will use this as a training experience. We hope we can win against the other three teams. It will behard but we will be giving our best," said Korea’s head coach Kim Cheol-Young.

Choi Kwang Hee, Jung Dae Young and Kim Sa Nee will banner the Korean squad, which will be challenged to the hilt by Magdalena Sliwa, Malgorzata Glinska, Magorzata Niemczyk-Wolska, , Agata Mroz, Katarzyna Skowronska, and the 2003 Junior World Championships bronze medallist Anna Podolec and Izabela Zebrowska.

The finals, which will be played in Italy late this month, offers US$170,000 to the champion, US$84,000 to the second placer, US$ 45, 000 to the third placer and US$40,000 to the fourth placer.