2013 World Grand Champions Cup for Men

  • I would say partial revenge. A win in a meaningless tournament is not really a dream job for Italy, but it will for sure boost their confidence. Russia proved once again they are vulnerable in opening games. But don't put Brazil on the first place yet :)


    I cannot agree more.. well said

  • FIVB Men's Volleyball Grand Champions Cup 2013
    Venue: the Kyoto Prefectural Gymnasium and the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium
    Kyoto &Tokyo, Japan
    Date: November 19 to 24, 2013


    Participating Teams: 6
    Japan: Host Country
    Brazil: 2013 South American Champions
    United States: 2013 NORCECA Champions
    Russia: 2013 European Champions
    Iran: 2013 Asian Champions
    Italy: Wild Card


    2nd. DAY
    November 20, 2013
    Venue: Kyoto Prefectural Gymnasium
    Kyoto, Japan


    *** Thailand Standard Time (GMT/UTC + 7:00 hrs.)


    Italy vs Iran
    FIVB Men's Volleyball Grand Champions Cup 2013
    20-11-2013
    10:10 - 12:40
    http://www.sportlemon.tv/20131…8b35.77872444-687406.html
    OR
    http://livetv.sx/en/eventinfo/201849_italy_iran/
    .................................................


    Brazil vs USA
    FIVB Men's Volleyball Grand Champions Cup 2013
    20-11-2013
    14:00 - 16:30
    http://www.sportlemon.tv/20131…05d6.56233116-687400.html
    OR
    http://livetv.sx/en/eventinfo/201850_brazil_usa/
    .................................................


    Russia vs Japan
    FIVB Men's Volleyball Grand Champions Cup 2013
    20-11-2013
    17:00 - 19:30
    http://www.sportlemon.tv/20131…5140.99439402-687402.html
    OR
    http://livetv.sx/en/eventinfo/201851_russia_japan/
    .................................................

  • I would say partial revenge. A win in a meaningless tournament is not really a dream job for Italy, but it will for sure boost their confidence. Russia proved once again they are vulnerable in opening games. But don't put Brazil on the first place yet :)


    Of course, partly. Just that I wasnt so accurated with the word. I said it a "metaphoric" way. This year Russia already beat Italy twice in important matches. So, like you said, this victory boost italian confidence.
    I agree about Russia. The same happened in ECH. 0x3 against, but then they got the gold.


    Congratulations to Iran! They have improved a lot. Brazil sweat a lot the last 2 sets. And now, they are 1 set up vs Italy.

  • Thanks to Opponents' results today, Brazil has even easier road to the Champion Title.

  • Brazil-USA. 2 teams I love, but USA team is a step ahead.


    I'm so sad for the USA team, they lost in a very bad way.


    Christenson and Shoji impressive again. I wonder what Micah can do with a better reception. He was forced to play with OHs and the opposite the whole time.


    Lee looks weak in this tournament. Rooney the same. What about Stanley? The team needs him again. I don't really like Anderson as an opposite even if he used to play well untill now.

  • What about Stanley? The team needs him again.


    He'll be back next season.


    I agree about Lee. He didn't play that good in the Norceca final too. Holt is impressive, he had a great match yesterday and a solid one today. The USA team still makes too many mistakes.
    I'd like to see Clark and Lotman on court.

  • He'll be back next season.


    I agree about Lee. He didn't play that good in the Norceca final too. Holt is impressive, he had a great match yesterday and a solid one today. The USA team still makes too many mistakes.
    I'd like to see Clark and Lotman on court.


    I agree. I'd try Priddy + Lotman + Anderson or Anderson + Lotman + Clark. Maybe the first solution is better, because Micah needs to involve the middles much more than today's match.


    About Lee it could be just a bad shape moment: he didn't play a lot last season, bacause he was on court just for the Champions League matches; this season everybody started playing with his own club, but chinese League A didn't start yet (maybe he didn't train in Shaghai neither). Usually he is far away better than this.


    BTW I really trust this USA team. The team needed most of all a setter and a libero and now there are Christenson and Shoji, both rising stars to me. We can say the same about Holt. Anderson can still improve a bit. Right now there is the need to find a Priddy's style player and Lotman maybe can do it. I have big expectations from Carson Clark too.


    About Brazil I don't really know what to say. I can see Bruno, Lucarelli and Lucao play like this for a long while, but what about the others? Wallace would not be that good with another setter. Sidao is not that kind of Mb that I like, but he's still there and I can't see who can take his place (Eder tryed and he wasn't really good). Dante and Murilo are getting older and they need much more rest than before. Mario can be there for a long while, but he's already 31, they need to start the development of a new player on libero position (I really like Lukinha for example).


    What I'm trying to say is that I can see bright future for the USA team, but Brazil is a big question mark. Brasilian players' level drops down very quickly when they are not anymore shining stars in their clubs or into NT (Sassà, Giba, Mari, Paula, Erika, Renatinha...): it looks like they mentally give up all at once when they find out they're not anymore stars of their own teams.

  • About Lee it could be just a bad shape moment: he didn't play a lot last season, bacause he was on court just for the Champions League matches; this season everybody started playing with his own club, but chinese League A didn't start yet (maybe he didn't train in Shaghai neither). Usually he is far away better than this.


    Yeah, I know. I've followed Kazan's team a bit last season, especially in the CL games. I still can't believe why Alekno took Lee off of the court before the 5th set in the match against Loko. His play with Vermiglio was outstanding. Anyway. From what I've read David has started some trainings with Fudan (the same goes for Bown and women's team), but that was just for a short period of time. That's probably the reason why he isn't playing as strong as usual (he's one of my favourite players in the USA NT team).


    About Priddy. Few weeks ago I've listened to the interview he gave in his radio (the NET Live), where he was talking about coming back to trainings (as he was out of WL because of the wedding) and how hard it was for him. So I think he still needs time to go back to his best shape. Also, Speraw is kind of creating a new philospohy in the team and as Priddy said, for a weteran like him, he also needs time to adjust and re-learn some things.


    BTW I really trust this USA team. The team needed most of all a setter and a libero and now there are Christenson and Shoji, both rising stars to me. We can say the same about Holt. Anderson can still improve a bit. Right now there is the need to find a Priddy's style player and Lotman maybe can do it. I have big expectations from Carson Clark too.


    I trust them too. I like Shoji, he's solid both in defense and reception (long periods of time when USA was playing with only two receivers - Shoji and Priddy). Micah is an interesting, young player. Very accurate, clean game. Nice serve, quite good block.
    Carson had a good game in Bydgoszcz, after just like one training with the setter, so I guess he's in form.



    As for Brazil I can say just one thing - I trust Bernardinho more than any other coach.

  • FIVB Men's Volleyball Grand Champions Cup 2013
    Venue: the Kyoto Prefectural Gymnasium and the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium
    Kyoto &Tokyo, Japan
    Date: November 19 to 24, 2013


    Participating Teams: 6
    Japan: Host Country
    Brazil: 2013 South American Champions
    United States: 2013 NORCECA Champions
    Russia: 2013 European Champions
    Iran: 2013 Asian Champions
    Italy: Wild Card


    3rd. DAY
    November 21, 2013
    Venue: Kyoto Prefectural Gymnasium
    Kyoto, Japan

    IRAN - RUSSIA
    07:10 AM (GMT/UTC Time)
    14:10 - 16:30 (Thailand Standard Time)
    http://www.sportlemon.tv/20131…48f0.68865440-688126.html
    OR
    http://livetv.sx/en/eventinfo/201853_iran_russia/
    http://cdn.livetv.sx/webplayer…53&lid=173236&ci=299&si=5
    .................................................


    JAPAN - BRAZIL
    10:10 AM (GMT/UTC Time)
    17:10 - 19:30 (Thailand Standard Time)
    http://www.sportlemon.tv/20131…ea49.88411361-688127.html
    OR
    http://livetv.sx/en/eventinfo/201854_japan_brazil/
    .................................................

  • Carson Clark changed the match when he came in from the fourth set. USA team played better with a real opposite in. It looks like Lee found the rhythm during the last match and played better than his last performances. Rooney still weak link. He's totally out of shape. I wonder how long he can last in South Korea if he keeps playing so bad; he's a star there, when he started his carrer with Hyundai Skywalkers he used to be like a God of volleyball for korean standards, but I don't know if the memories can help him if he doesn't start playing well...


    I don't want to bore anyone, but Christenson and Shoji! :obey: :obey:


    On Italy side Beretta... :down: this guy is a total waste of time. Piano is much more better. Beretta is there while Cester and Barone are at home! :wall:


    Today Vettori had a weak game, but he's got a huge potential, so I don't want to blame him. The problems are the weak games from players without any potential like Beretta.

  • Noone has the right to blame Players because every Player on court would be better than every Volleyball Fan on court.

  • Carson Clark changed the match when he came in from the fourth set. USA team played better with a real opposite in. It looks like Lee found the rhythm during the last match and played better than his last performances. Rooney still weak link. He's totally out of shape. I wonder how long he can last in South Korea if he keeps playing so bad; he's a star there, when he started his carrer with Hyundai Skywalkers he used to be like a God of volleyball for korean standards, but I don't know if the memories can help him if he doesn't start playing well...


    I don't want to bore anyone, but Christenson and Shoji! :obey: :obey:


    Totally agree with your post. Great sub by Carson, loved his block-out attacks. Finally I saw David doing what he does best - blockng (the end of the fourth set!), serving, attacking. Hope he continous like that. I also think he could get the MVP award. As much as I adore Reid, I have no idea why he got it. Not that it matters much, but still... Can't wait for the match against Russia - with Matt, David, Max, Reid having played or currently playing in Superleague it should be really interesting.


    Christenson had some mistakes, but also some amazing plays, especially from second balls. And he was a part of play of the day for me, when Holt set him a ball and Micah killed it :super: Great stuff. He seemed to be very confident today.


    I found Russia - Iran match a bit slow-paced and, well, boring. I thought Velasco's players didn't really believe in defeating Russia.

  • FIVB Men's Volleyball Grand Champions Cup 2013
    Venue: the Kyoto Prefectural Gymnasium and the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium
    Kyoto &Tokyo, Japan
    Date: November 19 to 24, 2013
    19-20/11/2013
    Kyoto Prefectural Gymnasium
    22-24/11/2013
    Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium


    Participating Teams: 6
    Japan: Host Country
    Brazil: 2013 South American Champions
    United States: 2013 NORCECA Champions
    Russia: 2013 European Champions
    Iran: 2013 Asian Champions
    Italy: Wild Card


    4th. DAY
    November 23, 2013
    Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium
    Tokyo, Japan


    IRAN - USA
    FIVB Men's Volleyball Grand Champions Cup 2013
    23-11-2013 10:
    03:10 (GMT Time)
    10:10 - 12:40 (Thailand Time)
    http://www.sportlemon.tv/20131…f938.72349038-688598.html
    OR
    http://livetv.sx/en/eventinfo/201855_iran_usa/


    RUSSIA - BRAZIL
    FIVB Men's Volleyball Grand Champions Cup 2013
    23-11-2013
    07:10 (GMT Time)
    14:10 - 16:30 (Thailand Time)
    http://www.sportlemon.tv/20131…77f6.13338250-688599.html
    OR
    http://livetv.sx/en/eventinfo/201856_russia_brazil/
    .....................................................

  • not fair, US outscored IRN but still lost... it's like losing 1/6, 7/6, 7/6 in tennis!!!!!


    Well, this game is about winning sets 8) . Big congratulations for Iran, this victory is surely very prestigous for them, especially for the federation.


    I decided this morning to ignore the alarm clock, so i could only watch end of fifth set of Brazil-Russia. I guess, winning this match is more important to them, than winning the tournament :whistle:

  • If forgott to ask: I would apprciate any link to rewatch Iranian match. Fifth set would be enough :wavy:

  • If forgott to ask: I would apprciate any link to rewatch Iranian match. Fifth set would be enough :wavy:


    All the games so far are available in rutracker. USA vs. Iran will probably be uploaded soon as well. There are some channels in YouTube that convert them and upload them, too.


    Two questions to the knowledgeable ones. What happened to Iran's regular opposite, Amir Ghafour? He started the tournament and has been out of the 12-men roster ever since. Also, how serious is Mousavi's injury?