"Compared with the Athens Olympics, in this competition the players could keep their motivation and we picked up many hints for competing in the Beijing Olympics," said Japan head coach Shoichi Yanagimoto. "The time before the Beijing Olympics is limited, so we should check the problems we have come across in this competition."
Brazil earned a hard-fought 3-0 victory over hosts Japan Sunday evening to win their seventh World Grand Prix title with a perfect 5-0 record as the 2008 edition of the women's volleyball gala lowered its curtain at Yokohama Arena.
The first set of the match between Cuba and Italy was also fiercely contested until the Italians opened up a three-point gap with a Francesca Piccinini spike on the left for 19-16, forcing Cuba to call the first TO of the match.
Kenia Carcaces continued to lead the Cuban reply, but there was nothing the Cuban block could do to stop Serena Ortolani's smooth spike on the right for 21-18.
At this point, Santos exploded on the right for a couple of Cuban winners, and now Italy went off for a TO hanging on to a one- point lead, 21-20.
Trailing 23-21, a Cuban block on Ortolani and a Ruiz special from the left brought Cuba level 23-23, sending Italy into their second TO.
