Thai spikers smoke Cuba for fifth time

Thailand beat Cuba for a fifth consecutive time with a dramatic 3-2 win over the three-time Olympic champions yesterday, in the first leg of the 2013 China International Women's Volleyball Tournament in Ningbo.

The Thai team, who finished an amazing fourth at last year's FIVB World Grand Prix and then captured their maiden AVC Cup, have been handed a debut invitation for the four-team event, also features Puerto Rico and hosts China.

The first leg finishes tomorrow, with the round-robin action moving on to Shenzhen next week, where the team with highest number of points will be crowned champions on Friday.

Against formidable Cuba in their curtain-raiser, Thailand fielded a strong line-up including the seven players - Pluemjit Thinkaow, Nootsara Tomkom, Amporn Hyapha, Wilavan Apinyapong, Onuma Sittirak, Malika Kangthong and libero Wanna Buakaew - who helped Igtisadchi Baku claim second spot in the Azerbaijan Super League last month.

Cuba fielded a new mix of youth and experience, which came unstuck against a Thai team who have been playing together for more than seven years. After Thailand got off to a flying start to take the first two sets, 25-18 and 25-21, Cuba stormed back 25-19 25-22 to level the match. The tie-breaker was a hotly contested battle, with the lead see-sawing back and forth. Thai experience eventually came to the fore with a 17-15 set win and with it the match.

Thailand's run against Cuba began in the 2011 World Grand Prix first leg in Nakhon Pathom, before they repeated the feat in the third leg in Bangkok just days later. The Thais maintained their domination at last year's World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Tokyo, while the fourth win against Cuba came in last year's World Grand Prix Finals in Ningbo - the same venue as the Thais' latest triumph. The win bagged Thailand two points, with Cuba taking one point. The Thais go up against hosts China at 6.30pm today.

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