Cuba beat Canada and will discuss the gold unbeaten

HAVANA, Cuba, August 31, 2018 -  Cuba beat Canada 3-1 (21-25, 25-21, 25-18, 25-21) and as the only undefeated team will discuss the gold this Saturday against Dominican Republic, which beat the United States in four sets (21-25, 25-23, 26-24, 25-18) in their semifinal match of the Norceca Sub-21 Men's Volleyball Tournament.

Both contenders will not only fight for the title, but also for the ticket that this event grants for the FIVB World Championship of the category foreseen in 2019.

The opposite of home side Jose C. Romero with 23 points was the highest scorer of the contest and corner player Julio C. Cárdenas was the other with double digits with 17, while the visitors got the opposite also Xander Ketrzynski with 19.

Cuba got wide advantage of 51-35 in attack and minimum in unforced errors (32-33), while the rivals led in blocking (9-8) and service (6-4).

The local coach Jesus A. Cruz explained that "the Canadians came to make their best game, tried to find their strengths and make a dent in our weaknesses especially in the first set, in which the receipt did not work, in which now we were the best in that department, and they attacked with the serve and it worked better given our own inefficiency.”

"When we pushed and we had more quality in the reception they started to fail, and because our blocking and attack are stronger we forced them to make mistakes, but it was a tense match, very much fought from the beginning except at the end of the last set we dominated and we achieved today's goal, however we have not finished, we have to prepare for tomorrow."

The opposite Romero who is only 18 years-old said that "the rivals started well and we went up, but we knew to go up in the second set and make our game, improve the receipt, specify the complex one and counterattacks, and we added a lot of combat for them to loosen up."

For his part the northern captain, corner attacker Michael Dowhaniuk despite the loss kindly made statements. "Both teams played well, it was a very difficult match, I think we did it right, we gave it everything."

Shayne White, assistant coach of the technical director, said that "we play with passion, with courage and we represent Canada very well".

This last day the program contemplates the discussion of the seventh place (12:00) between Nicaragua and Barbados; for the fifth Guatemala-Haiti (14:00); Canada-United States for bronze (4pm) and Dominican Republic (6pm).