Leila Barros has many faces

BRAZIL’S Leila Barros has retired. Compatriot Erika Coimbra has opted out of the 2002 Brazil national team for personal reasons. Maurizia Caccatori and Francesca Piccinini also aren’t returning since Italy is not among the eight teams participating this year.

But while the pretty faces Filipino fans were going gaga over with two years ago won’t be around anymore, there still are some pretty new faces volleyball fans can look forward to when the 10th World Grand Prix Women’s Volleyball Championships returns to the country July 19-21 at the Araneta Coliseum.

For one, there is Anjelina Gruen of Germany, a 22-year-old, 6-foot-1 and 160-lb. looker and charmer off-court but who can be a monster to the opposition come gametime with her tremendous skills. She’s not that photogenic but wait till you see her in person.

A holder of a diploma in psychology from the University of Munster, Gruen left Germany in search of new challenges after having won practically all there was to win in her country. Gruen thought she has become a better player while joining the Italian Modena club under its legendary Chinese coach Jenny Lang Ping.

Ping has been quoted to have said Gruen "has the stuff, very young and exploding with energy."

Then there’s Natalia Safronova of Russia, who could easily become the Anna Kournikova or the Daniela Hantuchova of this year’s Manila leg of the World Grand Prix, which has New PAGCOR as presentor; San Mig Light, Agfa Film, Red Bull Energy Drink, PCSO, the Philippine Sports Commission and Adidas as major sponsors; and, the Philippine Tourism Authority, St. Monique Valaise, Filmal Realty Corporation, Purefoods TJ Hotdogs, Dari Crème Light, Nextel Communications, Viva Mineral Water, Citibank, Kleenex Facial Tissue and Kotex as minor sponsors.

The 23-year-old, 6-foot-3 and 160-lb. Russian is among her country’s upcoming players. In an exhibition game against defending World Grand Prix champion United States last month in Tula, Russia, Safronova tallied 14 points, all on kills, as the Russians came from two sets down to defeat the Americans in five sets and sweep their 4-game exhibition series which also had other games in Moscow.

Another is Anna Artamanova, Russia’s top setter, who is 21 years old, also stands 6-2 and weighs 155 lbs.

Sydney 2000 Olympics silver medalist Russia and bronze medalist Brazil, European champion Germany and Asian powerhouse Japan will figure against each other in one of six legs in Asia of this World Grand Prix, leading to the finals in Hong Kong on August 1.

A total of eight teams are actually participating in the four-week-long, two legs per weekend $1.04-million event with the four other teams being China, Cuba, Thailand and the United States, which was last year’s overall champion. The event started last Friday with legs in Tokyo, Japan and Chengdu, China. Nakhon Ratchasima in Thailand), Miau Li in Taiwan and Macau are other legs’ hosts.

The event, which could have President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo attending the opening ceremonies, is also supported by donors Philamlife, Godiva, PLDT, Philweb and Alaska Milk while the Philippine Star, 92.3 Joey’s Rhythm, DZAR Angel Radyo 1026 and Viva Vintage TV are the media partners.