Osaka, Japan, November 19, 2009 - NORCECA champion Cuba collected their first win of the Men’s World Grand Champions Cup by coming from behind to beat Poland 3-1 on Thursday. After losing the first set to the European champions 25-22, Cuba took the next three 25-18, 25-18, 25-22 to improve their win-loss record to 1-1 after the previous day’s defeat to Brazil. Poland dropped to 0-2.

It was all Poland in the first set as they got out of the blocks early. As Poland closed in on the first set, Joandry Leal kept Cuba in business with some crashing spikes from the left. Poland led 23-20 but called a TO on losing the next two points. When they returned, Fernando Hernandez served wide up the left to hand the Poles two set points, and on the first of those Marcin Mozdzonek reached over the net and patted the ball on to the Cuban court for 25-22.

However, Cuba fought back strongly to take the next three sets.

In the second set, Cuba rallied from 0-4 to a 16-14 lead at the second TTO. The Poles took two consecutive TOs when trailing 18-15 and 19-15, but there was no respite from the Cuban master blasters, who eventually began to wear down the Polish defence. A Leal serve dropped just inside the base line for 23-17, and Sanchez finished it 25-18 for 1-1.

Also in the fourth set, Cuba had to play catch-up as Kurek and Daniel Plinski hinted at a Polish comeback, and when setter Grzegorz Lomacz blocked Leal for 12-10, the Cubans called a TO. The power of Sanchez, carving through the Polish defence from the right, and the blocking of Hierrezuelo took Cuba into the second TTO with a two-point cushion, 16-14. The lead grew to five points to bring victory close for the world number seven, before Jarosz, with some stinging serves and follow-up attacks, interrupted the Cuban march. Cuba had two match points at 24-22, and won it on an attack error 25-22.

Also in the fourth set, Cuba had to play catch-up as Kurek and Daniel Plinski hinted at a Polish comeback, and when setter Grzegorz Lomacz blocked Leal for 12-10, the Cubans called a TO. The power of Sanchez, carving through the Polish defence from the right, and the blocking of Hierrezuelo took Cuba into the second TTO with a two-point cushion, 16-14. The lead grew to five points to bring victory close for the world number seven, before Jarosz, with some stinging serves and follow-up attacks, interrupted the Cuban march. Cuba had two match points at 24-22, and won it on an attack error 25-22.