Cuba starts Barranquilla CACG beating Venezuela

BARRANQUILLA, Colombia, July 28, 2018.- Cuba started the 2018 Barranquilla XXIII Central American and Caribbean Games beating Venezuela in pool A by 3-0 (25-21, 27-25, 25-21) score at Humberto Perea Colliseum.

It was a very intense match, specially the second set where Venezuela recovered from a four point deficit (20-24) snatching away Cuba’s set point. Cuban blockers were crucial to hold off Venezuela’s attackers. With only the first match, Cuba and Venezuela demonstrated their power in pool A.

Cuba prevailed in spikes (48-34) and blocks (8-4). Both teams scored on 4 aces. Cuba allowed 25 points on unforced errors and Venezuela 17.

Cuban Osniel Mergarejo topped all scorers with 17 points, followed by his teammates Miguel Lopez with 12 points and Miguel Gutierrez with 11. Opposite player Emerson Rodríguez and middle blocker Edson Valencia led Venezuela with 10 points apiece.

Cuban captain Lyvan Osoria indicated that Venezuela has a good level, “we respect them a lot and it was emotional, we’re used to play that way among Latin Americans. Our goal is to win the gold medal, this is the first step. Starting on a victory is important, even if we had errors in attacks and serves”.

Head coach Ernesto Nicolas of Cuba spoke about his team’s debut “my boys were a Little desperate in the second set while Venezuela was trying to catch up on us; they pushed hard and committed errors. All our matches will be intense. I believe we performed pretty well and have to keep on working to reach our goal”.

Ronal Sarti, Venezuela’s coach said “Cuba is a tough opponent, for me the strongest in our group and they have a lot of preparation, we on the other hand have little preparation to solve in those critical moments; we contributed to Cuba’s victory, committing many errors. We have to receive better to develop our K-1 more comfortably. We were really close in set two, but a comeback is only possible with experience and personality. From here on, we must win”.