Defending champions Brazil recovered from a first-set shock to defeat Cuba 3-1 in the opening Pool B match of the FIVB Volleyball World Championship for Men in Fukuoka on Friday.
Gilberto "Giba" Godoy, the high-stepping Andre Nascimento and the windmill-armed Dante Amaral powered the Brazilians from all parts of the front court to give the Olympic champions what eventually turned into a convincing 21-25, 25-19, 25-15,25- 22 victory.
Having only a couple of weeks to prepare for the tournament, Brazil needed the first set to dust off the cobwebs and produce an all-round solid display.
Brazil raced away to a 4-1 lead in the first set from two thundering spikes by Amaral and two Cuban mistakes, prompting the Cuba coach to call for an early time out. The talking to clearly worked as Cuba fought back though Brazil led 8-7 at the first technical time out.
Nascimento was in outstanding form for Brazil from the right and left while Daudinot Portuondo and Pouto Corrales were leading the attack for the Cubans, who managed to lead for the first time in the match at 16-15.
It was Coralles who put Brazil into a panic when he slammed down the middle to put Cuba 20-18 ahead, forcing Brazilian coach Bernardo Rezende into calling a time out.
But Michael Sanchez smashed a winner from the right to give Cuba a 21-18 lead. Cuba brought up set point by blocking Nascimento and they took the first set after a Brazilian infringement near the net.
Coralles and Pontuondo were causing havoc down both flanks as Cuba moved into a 5-2 second set lead. Inspired by their workaholic captain Ricardo Garcia, Brazil hit back to trail 8-7 at the first time out.
Brazil eventually went ahead 9-8 on a Cuban handling error and then took a two-point advantage at 13-11 following two more mistakes from their opponents. Star spiker Giba, who had a relatively quiet first set, started to exert more influence and his two powerful spikes helped Brazil to a 16-12 lead.
Brazil then took control of the set, improving their advantage to 21-16 before Gustavo Endres took it to set point with a block. Cuba saved one set point but then handed Brazil the set when Robertlandy Simon sent his spike soaring long.
The Brazilians were chasing it early in the third set, trailing 5-7 before some classic blocking and a trademark spike from the right by Nascimento gave them the lead for the first time in the set at 8-7.
Just a sniff of the lead was enough for Brazil to gain the upper hand, extending their advantage to 11-7 before their six-point run came to an end with a foul serve. Amaral speared one from the left to put Brazil 16-10 ahead at the second time out.
There was no way back for Cuba in this set as Brazil took a 2-1 lead on Giba's downward spike from the right.
At this point, left-handed Nascimento was the best spiker with 15 winners ahead of Cuba's Portuondo with 10.
Cuba came out fighting in the fourth, edging to an 8-6 lead as they matched Brazil in quality for the first time since the opening set. However, Giba and Amaral brought Brazil back on level terms before Giba and Nascimento pushed them ahead 11-9.
Cuba tied it again and the two teams traded blows until Brazil surged ahead 16-13.
The Brazilians were hoping to run away with it at that point but the stubborn Cubans came back to 19-19, much to the anger of Rezende, who called time out. Just two points later, with Cuba 21-19 ahead, a frustrated Rezende hit the time-out button again.
The break helped as Brazil fought back to 22-22 and then Nascimento's spike from the right restored their lead at 23-22.
Cuba confusion gave Brazil set point and the world champions finally sealed victory with an Endres block.
