Starshimira Filipova and Saori Kimura
Bulgarian captain Strashimira Filipova: “We knew it would be difficult today because we’re up against Japan who are well organised and supported. So it was good to win against this very good Japan team. This win today was maybe the most important because we started this round of the Grand Prix well and we are getting closer to the Finals. It was great for us to win 3-0 today.”
Bulgarian coach Marcello Abbondanza: ”I’m glad to win this very important game tonight and continue towards the Finals. It was very important to start this last round with a win like this against a strong Japan team. I’m very happy to win 3-0 so congratulations to my team”
Japan No. 2 Arisa Sato: “I’m from Sendai so I wanted to do my best as a home player, but we couldn’t win. It’s a real pity.”
Japanese captain Saori Kimura: It was our first home game for this new style Japan team. At first, we couldn’t do our best and we made big mistakes, especially at important moments, so that was really regrettable.”
Japanese coach Masayoshi Manabe: “It’s our first World Grand Prix with this new national team so I tried to use as many players as possible as a challenge for them, especially the younger players. Oumi and Sato only joined us a few weeks ago and were not in the best condition and that was one of the reasons we struggled today. In addition, the combinations between our setters and attackers weren’t good. Our interplay is weak, so we have to raise our level for when we get to Sapporo where we will have five games and need to be consistent. We have to use the bad points from today’s game to help us improve.”
For more information related to this competition, read World Grand Prix 2013.
