Japan blanked Cuba in Tokyo 

TOKYO, Japan, August 18, 2006.- Japan made a sensational start in the FIVB 2006 World Grand Prix breezing past Cuba 3-0 at Ariake Coliseum on Friday night.

Playing in front of a capacity crowd and inspired by 13 points from power spiker Kana Oyama, Japan came through with a 29-27, 25-18, 25-17 triumph. Miyuki Takahashi and Erika Araki both scored 12 points for Japan in a strong team effort.

Head coach Shoichi Yanagimoto said winning a tense first set was the key to success. Japan had squandered four match points and Cuba had missed one before Japan took it on their fifth attempt.

Cuban Rosir Calderon was the top scorer of the match with 17 points, Kenia Carcaces contributed 13 points and Nancy Carrillo charted 10. Neither Yumilka Ruiz nor Zoila Barros, the top players of the Cuba Team entered into action.

“The first set was very close but we were able to win it, and that resulted in a much better performance in the second and third sets,” said Yanagimoto.

And Yoshie Takeshita, the team’s captain added: “This was the first game so we wanted to play with power, and the performance was the result of keeping focused for the whole game.”