Osaka, Japan, June 17, 2016 - Both Japan and Cuba enter their meeting on the second day of the FIVB Volleyball World League 2016 Group 2 in Osaka as first-day winners, but their head-to-head historical record is heavily biased towards Cuba.
Head-to-Head
• These nations have met 30 times before in competitive matches. Japan have won four times and Cuba 26.
• Cuba are unbeaten in their last 18 meetings with Japan. Japan's last victory was at the 1995 World Cup (3-1 in Japan).
• In the World League, Cuba have won all 12 meetings with Japan, all by 3-0 or 3-1.
• Their last meeting was at the 2012 World League, Cuba won all four matches in the Intercontinental Rounds (one in straight sets and the other three by 3-1).
Japan
• Japan proved too strong for Finland on Friday: 3-0.
• Seven of Japan’s last eight World League matches have ended in straight sets. Japan won four of those seven.
• Since 2009 Japan have claimed back-to-back World League wins on only two occasions, and only once within a single season (2013).
• Kunihiro Shimizu was Japan’s top scorer against Finland, scoring 19 of Japan’s 76 points (17 spikes, 1 block, 1 serve).
• Japan have played 34 World League matches against NORCECA teams, winning four. Those four wins all came against United States.
Cuba
• Cuba started their 2016 World League campaign with a 3-2 victory over Korea.
• Cuba have now won their last five five-setters at the World League. They have had one longer winning streak in matches going the distance: six consecutive victories in 1993-1995.
• Cuba can win back-to-back World League matches for the first time since their last two matches of the 2014 campaign against China and Turkey.
• Cuba had five players with ten or more points against Korea: Calvo (14), Sosa (12), Cepeda (11), Uriarte (11) and Melgarejo (10).