Cuba won the NORCECA Men’s U-21

MONTERREY, Mexico, August 13, 2006.- Cuba defeated USA in straight sets (25-16, 25-20, 25-18) successfully defending its crown as the kings of NORCECA Men’s U-21 Continental Tournament. Both teams were already qualified for the 2007 FIVB Junior World Championship.

In the match for the bronze, Canada beat Puerto Rico 25-15, 25-21, 22-25, 25-11 and also won a ticket to the world competition.

The Cubans dominated all the way based on the strength of their attack and the timely blocking led by Rolando Junquin, elected as the Most Valuable Player of the event.

Junquin led Cuba with 16 points and Raidel Delgado and Yadier Sanchez each added 11 points. Will Price was the only American in double figures with 12 points.

“Our strategy worked very well as planned,” said Juan Gala, the Cuban coach. “We created problems to their reception with our accurate serves.”

Andre Morin and Thomas Jarmoc led Canada with 17 and 15 points respectively and Daniel Erazo marked 10 tallies for Puerto Rico.

“We played very good especially with our blocking and taking advantage of the opponent’s mistakes,” said George Laplante, the Canadian coach.

In the match for sixth place, Guatemala beat Dominican Republic in straight sets (25-21, 25-15, 25-20) with Jorge Gonzalez and Oscar Garcia leading the attack with 16 and 11 points. Dominican Melvin Frias recorded 10 points.

The Cuban Junquin was also the best attacker of the competition with an average of 64.06 and Canadian Morin finished as the best scorer with 67 points.

Other Cubans included in the All-Star were Keiber Gutierrez as best libero and receiver and Raidel Hierrezuelo and Yadier Sanchez as best setter and server respectively. Puerto Rican Dennis del Valle was the best digger and American Maxwell Holt picked up the award as the best blocker.