NAGOYA (Japan), Nov 21: Cuba and Brazil chalked up a second straight win apiece Wednesday in the World Grand Champions Cup men’s volleyball tournament.

The Cuban spikers, fresh from a victory over Olympic champions Yugoslavia on the first day Tuesday, totally outclassed Asian champions South Korea 25-17, 25-17, 25-22 in just 67 minutes.

Defending champions Brazil outgunned wild card entrants Argentina 25-16, 25-15, 25-7, to also remain unbeaten in the six-team round robin, which carries a top prize of 400,000 dollars.

Yugoslavia got back to their winning ways beating hosts Japan 25-15, 25-18, 25-17 for a 1-1 win-loss record at third place ahead of Japan by a better set ratio and win-less Argentina and South Korea.

The two leaders will face each other on Friday when the tournament will shift to Tokyo for the remaining games.

Cuban coach Gilberto Herrera said his team, seeking its first major international title since the 1989 World Cup, had improved dramatically this year.

“It’s no use to compare Brazil with Italy,” he said, referring to Cuba’s loss to world champions Italy in the World League in June.

“I’m sure our team has improved a lot through 40 matches... since we lost to Italy. We are in a very good mood right now.”

Brazilian captain Nalbert Bitencourt said: “We’ve played them five times this year and we won four.

All of the matches were tight. We need to serve more consistently and block their high attacks.”

“We have to put pressure on them. If we don’t, they will take the charge. The Cubans play in a good rhythm and they have been together since the America’s Cup.

“We have just come together recently, but we’ll do our best against Cuba. Hopefully we learn something from the match,” added Rezende.

Leonel Marshall, the hero of Cuba’s victory over Yugoslavia, emerged as the best point-getter again, scoring a total of 14 points, 12 of them through his unstoppable attacks.

“Physically, they are superior to the Asian players,” said South Korean coach Shin Choi-Pyo. “I must say we are inferior in height and strength. I have nothing to be proud of in our team today.”

Captain Kim Se-Jin, who was sidelined in the third set due to a left shoulder problem, said: “Cuba’s power was too much for us. I was disappointed how we lost today. I think the Cubans will win the title with their power.”

Mauricio Lima, the setter who led Brazil to the gold medal at the Barcelona Olympics, set the pace from the outset with an array of deft passes with Dante Amaral hitting 12 winners, Andre Nascimento six and Henrique Randow four.

“Brazil did an impressive job. We are still a young team. I hope our players learned something from the match today and will get the experience they need from the matches with Cuba and Yugoslavia as well,” said Argentine captain Hugo Conte.

Wednesday’s results

Cuba bt South Korea 3-0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-22); Brazil bt Argentina 3-0 (25-16, 25-15, 25-7); Yugoslavia bt Japan 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-17).—AFP