Cuba beats Peru to reach Pan Am Games semifinals 

LIMA, Peru, August 2, 2019. - Cuba beat host Peru 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-19) and finished second in pool A to reach the Lima 2019 Pan American Games semifinals at the Multisport Complex El Callao in Lima, Peru. 

Cuba earned their spot in semifinals as second place in pool A, with a 2-1 win-loss record; while Peru finishes fourth place and will play for seventh position of the event. 

Cuba’s overwhelming attacking (41-27) and blocking (15-3) margins finished with Peru’s high energy to move forward. Always supported by an enthusiastic crowd, the home team committed fewer (16-21) errors than Cuba.  

Outside hitter Miguel Angel Lopez of Cuba topped all scorers with 15 points on 13 kills and 2 blocks, followed by captain Livan Osoria with 12 points including 5 stuffed blocks and Osniel Mergarejo contributed with 10 points. With 7 points apiece, Alvaro Hidalgo and Daniel Porras led Peru’s attackers.  

Cuba will meet first place of pool B on Saturday’s first semifinal (6:30 pm local-time).  

Comments: 

Miguel Angel López, top scorer of Cuba: “We needed to win against Peru to reach the semifinal and we accomplished our goal. I believe Cuba can improve because we were pressured and I hope we can dominate this aspect for a better performance and win”. 

Nicolás Vives, Head coach of Cuba: “I first match (Argentina) was awful, but our goal has always been the same: finish among the top four of the Games and battle for a medal, which is the most important thing for us”.  

Juan Carlos Gala, Head coach of Peru: “I can’t feel more pleased with the team’s attitude these past days, knowing all the teams here are superior to them. Today we showed all the work we’ve been doing, they battled every moment, with the resources they have at hand. It’s been a well-structured project with young players and experienced ones; the result is a team with good attitude”.