Cuba is the NORCECA U-19 champion vs. hardest rival

HAVANA, Cuba, June 29, 2016 – Host squad defeated United States 3-2 (22-25, 25-21, 25-19, 23-25, 15-11), in the most exciting and closest clash to crown champion of the NORCECA Boys U-19 Volleyball Championship which was closed at the Sports City Coliseum.

Both teams, who already had the tickets to the World Championship, 2017, starred a fierce duel which lasted little more than two hours through which excelled the powerful spikes of both contenders and the devotion in each point.

With this victory, Cuba got its own back on USA for the loss which the Americans had inflicted on them in the previous NORCECA, 2014, in Tulsa, United States.

Cuba only led slightly its excellent adversaries in attack (50-47), as in block (9-9) and service (6-6) they were equalled; although the local team had fewer unforced errors (39-45).

José Carlos Romero (30) and Cristian Rojas (22) were the match best scorers; whereas on the American side, Samuel Lewis (16), Jayle Jasper (15) and Joel Schneidmiller (14) excelled. These five players were the only ones who scored double-digits.

Nicolas Vives, host team coach, expressed his happiness “as we fulfilled with the purpose of winning as by achieving it also meant our participation in the major event in 2017.”

“I would like to praise the extraordinary playing level of our opponents who were quite good technically. Most of these boys will be great players in the future. We knew to come from behind and win. We made some substitutions who worked it out and it guaranteed our triumph”, declared.

His main player, Romero, in the end the MVP of the event, considered “if we were able to prevail over United States is because our professor since we started to train in September has always insisted on it. We had prepared to meet a giant as demonstrated here. Our sacrifices and effort made throughout the tournament was shown in the court.”

Samuel Shweisky, visiting head coach, admitted Cuba is a great team both physically and tactically. “Having met them in their own arena put pressure under our young players, as after having won the first set my boys were still tense. However I am glad to have played fighting up to the tie-break and to take back home from this Island a nice experience to tell at home.”

Kyler Presho, captain, commented “today we did not play as well as wanted because Cuba performed a great game and I must praise each and all of its members for the excellent tournament they have had.”

United States won undefeated A Pool with triumphs over Nicaragua (3-2), Costa Rica (3-0) and Dominican Republic (3-0), and in semi finals they defeated Mexico (3-2). Cuba had the same performance in B Pool against Antigua and Barbuda (3-0), Jamaica (3-0) and Mexico (3-1), and in semi finals versus Nicaragua (3-0).