...CAVB...CONFEDERATION AFRICAINE DE VOLLEYBALL

Saitama, Japan, November 18, 2007: Tunisia gate-crashed Japan's opening night party in the third match of the first day of the 2007 Men’s World Cup at Saitama Super Arena on Sunday. Puerto Rico got off to a flyer at the men's World Cup with a straight sets victory over Egypt in their first game in Pool B in Matsumoto.

In front of 14,500 fans, the African vice champions saved two match points in the tiebreak before winning 3-2 -- 22-25, 25-21, 18-25, 25-22, 16-14.

In a frenzied atmosphere, Tunisia had trouble controlling their service in the early stages, enabling Japan to reach the first TTO with a two-point lead, 8-6.

Japan scored some cracking points of their own, though, notably from southpaw Kunihiro Shimizu firing across court from the right, and from the inspirational Yusuke Ishijima on attack and block against Hichem Kaabi.

On the restart, Yu Koshikawa found himself the subject of heavy Tunisian blocking, and the north Africans pulled ahead 10-9.

Khaled Belaid troubled the Japan defence on the left flank, and Bilel Ben Hassine swatted a crisp winner at the net. The Tunisians were able to open a three-point cushion, 16-13, at the second TTO thanks to the spiking of Noureddine Hfaiedh on the left and an ace from captain Ghazi Guidara, who was relishing the environment and at one point landed on the scorer's table chasing down a ball.

Japan then began to crank out some points at the net, as Yoshihiko Matsumoto and Kota Yamamura produced clean hits down the middle. Ishijima was playing like a man possessed, and when a Koshikawa missile flew through the Tunisia defence for 21-19, Tunisia called the first TO of the match.

Shimizu rose on the right to smash Japan to set point at 24-21, and Matsumoto bagged the winner at the second opportunity, 25-22.

Shimizu, 21, was enjoying a memorable World Cup debut, not just with his spiking but also his powerful serves which rocked the Tunisia defence.

In such circumstances, the African vice champions showed plenty of character to not only contain a fired-up home team but also set the pace in the second set. Marouane Garci jumped and spiked aggressively, and also troubled Japan with his accurate serves. Tunisia led 8-6 at the first TTO.

A Garci strike from the left was matched by Koshikawa, who sent a trademark spike whistling through the Tunisian defence, before Shimizu followed with an ace for 11-10 Japan.

However, Japan stumbled and needed a TO when falling behind 14-12; they returned for Ishijima to punch one through on the left and then pound a second successive point after his own dig for 14-14. Japan's serve reception faltered, and Garci cracked Tunisia into the second TTO ahead 16-14.

Japan were unable to close the gap, and at 21-19 head coach Tatsuya Ueta called his second TO of the set. Chokri Jouini fired an ace for 22-19, and Garci brought up set point at 24-20 with another blazing winner from the right. A block on Hfaiedh fell wide and the Tunisians were level 1-1 on taking it 25-21. After two sets, Shimizu led all scorers with 14 points, including 13 spikes. Garci, who was not a member of the starting six, had quickly compiled 10.

In the third set, Jouini ensured Tunisia made a steady start, but Garci knew he would be the subject of the Japan block after his impressive second set.

Japan went into the first TTO with a three-point lead after clever passing from setter Usami and libero Tsumagari enabled Ishijima to pat one over the block into a big space for 8-5.

At the net, Matsumoto was in aggressive mood, timing his runs well to meet Usami's inviting sets, and Shimizu continued to blaze away on the Japan right to keep his team in front.

Japan's serving was top notch, and a Chiba screamer was returned for Ishijima to pounce again at the net for 12-8 and a Tunisia TO.

With a combination of brute force and subtle skills, Ishijima maintained Japan's momentum, taking over the attack from Shimizu, who was given on-court blocking coaching by Ueta a few metres away on the sideline.

Japan led 16-12 at the second TTO, and when Chiba blasted through the block for 19-13, Tunisia took a TO.

At 24-17, Japan had plenty of time to close out the third set, and Chiba did so down the left for 25-18, 2-1 Japan.

Shimizu had amassed a game-high 19 points in the first three sets and quickly added to that tally in the fourth. In a punishing rally, Tsumagari pulled off some spectacular controlled digs as Japan had to defend against a Tunisian team eyeing a tiebreak set.

When the African vice champions led 6-3, Japan went off for a TO, and returned for Tomimatsu to punch one long for 7-3. Ishijima inspired Japan again with his blocking and his ability to find a gap with his attacks, and Japan trailed by only two, 8-6, at the first TTO.

The serving and reception of both teams remained of the highest level, as did the digging; the only thing separating them was the organisation of the defence under such heavy pressure.

Tunisia were able to maintain a two-point lead, and enjoyed a rare three-point cushion when Garci planted a well-placed spike among the defenders.

Karamosly spiked imperiously at the net to take Tunisia into the second TTO ahead by three again, 16-13. When Chiba spiked into the antenna on the left to leave Japan trailing 20-16, coach Ueta called his second TO of the fourth set.

As Garci tried to move Tunisia forward on the right, he was met by a terrific block from setter Tomonaga. With the lead down to one, 20-19, Tunisia took a TO. Chiba's flying back-court defence was also playing a part in the fourth-set recovery.

Hfaiedh blocked and spiked for four set points at 24-20, but after missing the first two of them Tunisia went into a TO with two chances remaining. Karamosly made no mistake at the net for 25-22, 2-2.

In the tiebreak, the question was who would have the strongest back-up for aces Shimizu (23 points) and Garci (17), as the teams resumed at a frantic pace.

Ishijima provided the answer, pounding Japan ahead 6-5. A block on Garci made it 7-5, and Japan turned round with a three-point cushion at 8-5.

Matsumoto swooped down the centre for 10-7, and Tunisia called a TO. Shimizu battered the home team into a four-point lead at 11-7, bringing another TO, and the north Africans returned with tighter blocking to close the gap to two at 12-10. Now Japan needed a TO.

A Garci wild serve gave Japan two match points at 14-12, but they could not finish and the Tunisians slid across the court on getting level 14-14. A block on Shimizu gave Tunisia their first match point at 15-14, and Ben Hassine tipped over a loose ball for 16-14 to silence the crowd -- apart from the wild Tunisian celebrations.

Matsumoto, Japan, November 18, 2007 - Puerto Rico got off to a flyer at the men's World Cup with a straight sets victory over Egypt in their first game in Pool B in Matsumoto.

The Norceca vice champions downed the African champions 25-17, 25-19, 25-17 behind some excellent work from the man who appears to walk on air, Hector Soto.

Mayor of Matsumoto City Dr. Akira Sugenoya started the fun at Matsumoto City General Gymnasium by taking the court to hit the first serve to a warm round of applause from the sizeable crowd before the two teams got down to business.

Puerto Rico, 12th at the 2006 world championships, headed into the first technical timeout leading 8-6 behind some clever play from crowd favorite Soto, well known to Japanese volleyball fans from his time playing for Panasonic.

The soaring Soto tipped over cheekily to put the Puerto Ricans 5-3 up and a couple more spectacular spikes put his team in the driving seat and got the spectators salivating.

Puerto Rico added to their tally courtesy of some solid blocks to go 10-6 ahead and Egypt decided now was the time to call a timeout.

Puerto Rico kept their noses well in front going into the second TTO and got their 16-9 ahead after a solid spike from Enrique Escalante.

Soto showed the gritty side to his game with a huge block on the right to put the score at 18-10 and pumped his fist in celebration. That brought about another Egypt TO as they sensed the first set slipping away.

Soto then showed he was a mere mortal with a service error and spike into the net, but then produced a mammoth spike that put his side 22-13 ahead.

Jose Rivera's trusty left hand brought set point at 24-16, when he smacked in a beauty from the right, before Ahmed Abd Elnaeim's (his name is Salah on his shirt) weak service into the net handed the first bracket to Puerto Rico in 20 minutes.

A determined Egypt came out all guns blazing in the second set and raced into a 4-1 lead. Puerto Rico coach Carlos D. Cardona had seen enough and called a TO.

The Puerto Ricans started to creep back into it, and some scrambling play leveled things up at 7-7, but Egypt went into the TTO 8-7 ahead after Soto couldn't get out of the way of a painful spike to the face.

Puerto Rico went 13-11 ahead with a towering block from Escalante on Mohamed Badawy and Soto flew through the air to dispatch a cross-court spike to make it 14-12 as his team started to turn the screw.

And it was Soto's serve, clipping the net but proving unstoppable, that brought the second TTO with Puerto Rico four points ahead.

The Puerto Ricans were relentless and stuck on another two points before Egypt coach Zakaria Ahmed called a TO so as to try to stop the rot.

On the way to Puerto Rico winning the second set, there was a nice moment when their barrel-chested No. 9 Luis Rodriguez - all 38-years-old of him - was momentarily switched for fresh-faced Emanuel Batista, who is 20 years the younger.

The switch didn't work as Batista served into the net but it didn't matter anyway as Soto closed out the set with a stylish spike from the left after being set up by Angel Perez.

Puerto Rico appeared in a rush to finish things off and took an early lead in the third set but the Egyptians were not giving up easily.

But with Rivera working the left-hand side well, combining spikes and blocks to great effect, the Puerto Ricans stayed in control.

Puerto Rico called a timeout when "Salah" smashed in a huge spike but Egypt's points were few and far between and they trailed by six points at the second TTO.

It was soon match point for Puerto Rico as veteran Rodriguez clipped in a left-hand spike on the left and they closed out the match when Abdalla Ahmed served long.