In a tense finish to the first set, Italy took it 30-28 on their fourth set point when Barazza blocked Barros at the center.
Cuba fought back strongly to take the second set 25-18 and continued the momentum in the third for a 16-10 cushion at the second TTO and held it to 24-21.
Italy withstood two set points to pull within 24-23, only to find Daimi Ramirez spike hard and at an angle that could not be saved to wind up the set 25-23.
In the fourth set, the Italians went down more tamely.
"I think this is the right result of this match and of this tournament because Cuba has played better than Italy for all the Final Round," said Italy head coach Massimo Barbolini at the post match press conference. "For us, if we will finish third this World Grand Prix will be very, very positive and important for the experience for the players, and for me to see some situations to improve against strong teams."
Ramirez made 15 kills in 17 attempts for 18 points to lead five Cuba players in double scoring digits.
In the first match of the day, Tayyiba Haneef-Park scored game- high 23 points to lift the United States over China in a five-set thriller.
After the two sides traded runs to tie it at 14-all in the tiebreak, Haneef-Park made it 15-14, but Xue struck again for deuce, saving a second match point.
Again Haneef-Park brought up match point, and won it at the third attempt, 17-15.
"We are very excited to come out of our last game of this tournament with a win and playing with a lot of heart and fight because that is what we will need in the Olympics," said American setter Lindsey Berg. "Everybody on the team contributed and it is great when you can do that. We will take this into the Olympics and fight every match."
"In today's match our play was not stable, especially our setters," said China head coach Chen Zhonghe. "The combination between the setter and attackers was not so smooth."
"We could not follow up the one-touch ball. As a result of these mistakes we could not get the chance to win this match."
Zhao Ruirui led China with 20 points and Wang Yimei added 18.
(Xinhua News Agency July 14, 2008)
