Cuba beat Guatemala to start Challengers Cup

PINAR DEL RÍO, Cuba, June 5, 2018 Cuba had no difficulties to defeat Guatemala 3-0 (25-10, 25-16, 25-16) in the closing match of day one of the NORCECA Men's Challenger Cup where one ticket is available for the World Final qualifying to the League of Nations of the FIVB 2019.

The favorites were superior in all the aspects of the match, in which the top scorers were the opposite Miguel David Gutiérrez (12) and the outsider hitter Osniel Melgarejo (10). For the Central Americans the one who contributed more to his team was the opposite Leonel Aragón with 6 marks.

Nicolás Vives, the Cuban coach highlighted the fulfillment by his boys in the work of the service and the blocking. "It worked very well, that was the strategy, blocking the diagonal as we also made some important changes to make it possible for everyone to play because it is their first match as a team."

"They also have the option to develop, we want the reserves to play and be ready for any complication, and because there may still be some changes in the squad for the Central American and Caribbean Games of Barranquilla."

Liván Osoria, captain of the host, said that "this encounter helped us to get loose and go into play, because a while ago we did not play as a selection in official events, I think that as the competition progresses we will raise the level and the main objective is to win the Cup, there cannot be other than that. "

The Cuban Reider Lucas Mora, head coach of Guatemala, talked about what it means to face the best team of the event. "The hosts have improved a lot, their level is impressive for this type of event in the area and we have a lot to gain and little to lose, but my boys did not play as we would have liked, a little more performance, they were confused and did not trust in them, but I hope that starting tomorrow they will improve ".

Even though he did not mention it, the fact is the group arrived almost at dawn delayed by the situation of the volcano in Guatemala, and only trained a few minutes because the trip lasted almost 24 hours, but it was worth the enthusiasm these young guys showed when entered the court.

His captain Carlos Lopez said that "we do not fit well, we made too many errors in the receipt and also in the blocking we were out of focus, but at the end of the game we squeeze and leave with that feeling that we know we can do things well and that in the rest of this Cup we will do what we can."