Lausanne, Switzerland, August 29, 2017 – Since its inception in 1993, the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Champions Cup has been host to a genuine who’s who of the volleyball world in terms of the players that have graced its courts.
Nevertheless, there is one player who stands out in the annals of this magnificent competition, which brings together the best national teams from each continent in the year following each Olympic Games.
Giba is the nickname given to Gilberto Amauri de Godoy Filho, who is the player in question. The Brazilian men’s team has won the World Grand Champions Cup on four different occasions over the course of its six-year history, and the illustrious hitter was instrumental in three of those victories for his country.
There was a gap of twelve years between Giba’s first triumph in the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Champions Cup in 1997 and his third victory in the renowned competition in 2009. In 2009, he won the tournament for the third time.
One month after the conclusion of the 2017 edition of the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix, the competition for this year will be held in Japan from September 5 to 10 (for the women) and from September 12 to 17 (for the men) respectively.
It should come as no surprise that Brazil’s men are competing once again, and given their status as defending champions and Olympic gold medalists, they are among the favorites to finish in the top spots. Bruno Rezende, a key figure in South America’s victories in the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Champions Cup in 2009 and 2013, is the most likely candidate to take the helm of the Brazilian team. Bruno Rezende was essential in both of South America’s victories in the tournament. However, in the most recent two iterations of the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Champions Cup, the honor of Most Valuable Player was awarded to not one but two additional global superstars.
Cuba’s Robertlandy Simón won MVP, best blocker, and best server in 2009. In 2013, Russian giant Dmitriy Muserskiy was voted MVP. Italy topped the competition in 1993 with Andrea Giani, Lorenzo Bernardi, and Andrea Gardini. Nalbert Bitencourt led Brazil to its first win four years later. Ivan Miljkovi? was the highest scorer and MVP in 2001, and André Nascimento repeated the feat in 2005.
Brazil won the women’s competition in 2005 and 2013. Two players have made a big impact on the competition. Sheilla Castro was 2005’s MVP, and Fabiana Claudino was 2013’s. The two South Americans shined at the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Champions Cup.
Cuba won the 1993 competition. Regla Bell was best spiker and MVP for “Las Morenas del Caribe.” Yevgeniya Artamonova scored the most. Four years later, she replicated the feat and led Russia to its sole FIVB Volleyball Grand Champions Cup victory. In 2001, Yekaterina Gamova was the leading scorer, but China won courtesy to Yang Hao.
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