article by Nicola Pucci
After the interlude of China, winner of the women’s volleyball tournament at the 2004 Athens Games after Cuba’s three-game series, five-hoop volleyball returns to speak South American at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, celebrating Brazil’s first success.
That the green and gold team is competitive at the highest levels has now been certified for some years, if it is true that Brazil, after the bronze at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics and fourth place in Athens, he climbed to the second step of the podium at the 2006 World Championships, beaten by Russia, and then went on to win four of the last five editions of the World Grand Prixincluding the one played in Japan, in Yokohama, in July.
Massimo Barbolini’s Italian national team arrives in Beijing with undisguised ambitions, in addition to world champion Russia and China, holders of the Olympic title and hosts, as well as the Italian national team led by Massimo Barbolini, who achieved a series of 26 consecutive victories between 2007 and the beginning of 2008, including the European Championships and the 2007 World Cup. Cuba itself, bronze in Athens and second in the World Grand Prix, the United States, Serbia and Poland cultivate the illusion, certainly not far-fetched, of doing well in an event that promises to be balanced and which runs from 9th to August 23 to Capital Indoor Stadium et al Beijing Institute of Technology Gymnasium.
The twelve teams are divided into two groups, and if Cuba routs the competition in Group A, winning all five matchesincluding the 3-2 comeback from two sets down against China in the rematch of the semi-final in Athens which saw the Asians prevail and a clear 3-0 against the United States, Italy is instead included in group B, beating Russia on its debut, the reigning world champion, 3-1, and then also getting the better of Kazakhstan, Algeria and Serbia, all defeated with an unequivocal 3-0, only to then always give in 3-0 against Brazil in the last round in the match which earned the South Americans the lead in the group standings.
With the Cuban naturalized Italian Taismary Aguero who experiences a personal tragedy with the death of her mother, with Eleonora Lo Bianco in the control room and with the performances of Nadia Centoni, Simona Gioli and Francesca Piccinini in attack, Italy is bidding for a place on the podium but sees its Olympic dream dashed in the quarter-finals in the match against the United Statesled 2-1 before the unexpected blackout that sent the Americans to the semifinals and sent the Italians home prematurely. Cuba and Brazil also advance without problems, with a clear 3-0 against Serbia and Japan, while China gets rid of Russia 3-0repeating the success of four years earlier in Athens and confirming their form in the defense of the title.
Ma the two semi-finalsif on the one hand they do not provide a spectacle given the clear superiority of the two winning teams, on the other highlight the definitive leap in quality of Brazil which demolishes China, taking away the crown, 3-0, and the admission among the greats of volleyball of the American volleyball players, even more easily winners than Cuba, another 3-0.
And so José Roberto Guimarães’ Brazil will compete in the finalwhich takes advantage of Paula Pequeno’s ability to spike, who at the end of the tournament will deserve the prize of best player of the event, of the masterful playmaking of Helia de Souza and the charisma in defense of Fabiana de Oliveria, and the United States of Lang Ping, Chinese coach, has the best scorer around in Logan Tom. But if the first two sets are characterized by balance with Brazil winning 25-15 in the first set and the Americans equalizing in the second, 25-18, from the third set onwards the green and gold sextet definitely takes the reins of the meeting in hand, led by Sheilla de Castro and Paula Pequeno, authors of 19 and 16 points respectively. The usual offensive contribution of Logan Tom, 16 points, is not enough for the United States Brazil finally wins 3-1 and climbs onto the Olympic roof for the first time, as exactly sixteen years earlier, in Barcelona 1992, the men’s team had done.
Who coached that historic group of champions? Obviously José Roberto Guimarães, link between men and women of Brazilian volleyball.
2024-05-12 15:52:00
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