Cuba and Chile begin friendly series in Havana
HAVANA, Cuba, December 28, 2019 – The men’s national teams
of Cuba and Chile played the first of three friendly matches
ahead of the Qualification Tournaments Tokyo 2020 of the
NORCECA and South American Confederations to take place in
Vancouver, Canada and Santiago, the Chilean capital from
January 10 to 12.
In the three-set opening match at Escuela Nacional de
Voleibol in Havana, the visitors claimed two after arriving
in the island on Thursday after winning a historic bronze
medal at the South American Championship behind Brazil and
Argentina, two of the seven teams already qualified to the
Olympics.
At home in January, the Chileans will face the challenge of
Venezuela, Peru and Colombia for the ticket available for
the South American Confederation. In Vancouver, the Cubans
will open against Puerto Rico followed by the match against
the home side before closing against Mexico, teams with
different characteristics but of high level and
international experience.
Of the 14 Cubans in the team expected to travel, only
Robertlandy Simon and Roamy Alonso missed the match as they
are returning from Italy on Saturday.
The Cubans will play another friendly series at home against
Venezuela on January 3-5 while the Chileans are to receive
the Dominican Republic in Santiago.