Cuba sweep Suriname off during second day

HAVANA, Cuba, May 22, 2014 – Cuba swept Suriname (25-13, 25-9, 25-11) to register their second victory in the NORCECA Men’s World Championship Qualification Tournament Pool P at Ciudad Deportiva Coliseum on Thursday in only 59 minutes.

In another match that saw all Cuban players seeing action, the 18 year-old Osmani Uriarte led the winners with 13 points followed by Rolando Cepeda (four aces) and Javier Jimenez with 9 points apiece. Suriname’s Keven Sporkslede topped the defeated side also with nine tallies.

The Cubans used their strong serves to held a huge 10-1 advantage in aces and dominated in the blocking department 8-3. Cuba’s Coach Rodolfo Sánchez commented about the progress of his team from the opening day when they defeated Barbados in straight sets.

“They did better than yesterday but still need to show all their potential, something that will be necessary tomorrow against the Dominicans,” Sanchez said.

On the other hand, Cuba’s captain Cepeda said, “we made fewer mistakes which is a key against a weaker opponent and to attain the goal of getting the ticket to Poland.”

Suriname’s Coach Jerry Slijngard praised the Cuban team for their performance.

“We know they are a superior team and we did what we thought was necessary,” he said. “Obviously our best was not enough. We have learned a lot, though.”

“It was a pretty tough game playing a team like Cuba with more experience who dominated us from the beginning to end especially with their strong serves. All in all what we did was not good at all,” Suriname’s captain Roberto Joval said.