Brazil won the Pan American Cup with sensational blocking

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, July 7, 2006.- Brazil won the gold medal at the Women’s Pan American Cup with a victory over Cuba in four sets capped by a sensational show of blocking led by Mari Steinbrecher.

Behind 14-19 in the third set, the new champions mounted an outstanding comeback with a couple of blocks by Steinbrecher and never stopped.mBrazil got the victory by score of 25-14, 21-25, 25-22, 25-11 and totaled 18 points via blocks.In the fourth set, the Brazilian wall grew up and Cuba was demolished by the flurry of consecutive stops at the net.

Steinbrecher led five teammates in double figures with 22 points, including five blocks and three serving aces. Joyce Silva had 16, Caroline Gattaz and Fabiana Claudino each had 11 and Valeska Menezes collaborated with 10.

Yumilka Ruiz and Nancy Carrillo had 13 and 11 points respectively for Cuba. “It is the best game this group has played,” said Roberto Guimaraes, the winning coach.

“Just being in the final against Cuba was phenomenal and winning is much more.” “The blocking in the third set was the key and in the fourth set the serves and the high blocks against the strong offense of Cuba,” he added.