Cuba keeps top position and will play for U23 Pan Am title

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 19, 2018. - Cuba kept their top position defeating Guatemala 3-0 (25-14, 25-16, 27-25) and will play for the fourth Men’s U23 Pan American title at the Multisports Dome in Guatemala City.

Cuba concludes the preliminary round undefeated with 4-0 record and 20 points to play for the title. This is the third occasion, second in a row, that Cuba reaches the gold medal match in the short history of the event; they beat Mexico in 2014 and lost to Argentina in the past edition in 2016.

The home team Guatemala finishes with 2-2 record and 9 points and will battle against Nicaragua in the bronze medal match.

Cuba dominated the first two sets, prevailing with powerful attacks, monster blocks and better physical presence on the court. However in the third set, Guatemala was involved offensively as well as defensively, scoring several interesting points to lead 24-23 against Cuba’s force. Cuba needed two match points (25-24, 26-25) to finish on top.

The Caribbean team held 48-31 advantage in kills, an overwhelming 14-0 margin in blocks and a slim 1-0 in aces. Guatemala committed fewer unforced errors than Cuba (14-23).

Opposite Jose Romero topped Cuba’s scorers with 18 points on 15 kills and 3 blocks, followed by wing spiker Osniel Melgarejo with 10 points. Carlos Lopez led Guatemala once more, scoring 12 points all in kills.

Nicolás Vives head coach of Cuba expressed “it was an interesting end, Guatemala is a team that plays well; we did some changes to use younger players, a used another setter and changed David of position so he could receive and that he may play another position in the future; my boys got too relaxed, it was a tight score in the end. What matters it our victory. Cuba will always come out to give our best and fight to win, and win the tournament”.

Guatemala’s coach, Cuban Reider Lucas indicated “my team was nervous at the beginning because they were facing the best team of the tournament. Cuba is a very solid team and there isn’t way to score easily, but things turned better for us and Cuba started to commit errors, we scored by our own means and that is satisfying. Our reception worked well, more effectively. My guys finished motivated, which is very important for tomorrow’s match against Nicaragua”.