China added to their already bulging bag of medals in Beijing by beating Cuba three sets to one (25-16, 21-25, 25-13, 25-20) in the Olympic women's volleyball bronze medal play-off Saturday.
China, cheered on by a raucous and partisan crowd, were much the better side, Cuba only finding their best form when on the edge of defeat.
Brazil meet the United States in the final, also at the Capital Gymnasium, later Saturday.
China, the 2004 Olympic champions, had been overwhelmed in straight sets by Brazil in the semi-finals while Cuba, who until the last four hadn't dropped a set, were stunningly defeated 3-0 by the United States.
Cuba, who won gold at the 2000 Sydney Games and bronze in Athens four years ago, raced into a 6-2 lead early in the first set thanks to some powerful spikes from Rachel Sanchez and effective blocking at the net by Nancy Carillo.
But China's coach Chen Zhonghe called a time-out and the islanders lost momentum, the hosts drawing level at 6-6.
Excellent blocking by Feng Kun and a cross-court spike from Zhao Ruirui gave China the lead.
China's increasingly deft set-up play, featuring repeat 'dummy' spikes and what were some well directed drop-shots caused the Cuban defence problems.
Everything was going China's way, including serves off the net, and when Cuban libero Lian Mesa's desperate attempt at a scrambled clearance sailed wide, China had set point.
Rather tamely, a Cuban techical infringement then saw China go 1-0 up.
Cuba started to find their touch in the second set and opened up a three-point lead before an angled spike from captain Yumilka Ruiz saw then level at 1-1.
But Cuba could not maintain any momentum that might have been built from a set win.
China, thanks to more good blocking and spiking from deep, which seemed to catch Cuba off guard, sprinted into a 16-8 third set lead.
The 6ft 5in (1.96m) Zhao often proved an impossible barrier for the Cubans to overcome.
Cuban coach Antonio Perdomo rang the changes but these had no impact and a netted serve from Zoila Barros gifted China the third set by a 12-point margin.
That seemed to inspire China, with brilliant defence from captain Feng Kun, running back to rescue a seemingly lost cause, typical of their play.
With China 10-5 up, Perdomo called a time-out but that didn't stop China extending their advantage at 13-7.
Cuba, however, fought back to be just 12-15 behind. But China held that gap until a fine block from Zhao gave then match point with a spike from Zhao sealing victory.
