Cuba sweeps Brazil to play for the Pan American Games Gold

LIMA, Peru, August 3, 3019. - Cuba swept Brazil 3-0 (25-16, 25-22, 25-21) on Saturday’s first semifinal to play for the Lima 2019 Pan American Games Gold medal at the Multisport Complex El Callao of Lima, Peru.

Cuba advances to their tenth Pan American Games Gold medal match, winning on five occasions; the last time they reached the final match was in 2011 at the Guadalajara Games where they lost to Brazil. Cuba waits for the winner of the other semifinal between defending champion Argentina and Chile.

Cuba’s dominant display over the net slowed down Brazil from start to finish with advantage in attacks 39-37 and in blocks 7-3. Brazil controlled the serving category by a 6-1 margin. Cuba scored on 29 Brazil errors while limiting theirs to 12.

Cuba’s scoring attack was led by Osniel Mergarejo with 17 points all on kills; Miguel Angel Lopez registered 12 points on 9 kills and 3 aces, while Marlon Yang scored 11 points on 9 kills and 2 aces. Carlos Eduardo Barreto (Kadu) with 12 point all on kills was Brazil’s only player with double-figures.

Comments:

Osniel Mergarejo, top scorer of Cuba: “We played well against Brazil, at our best game-level, we were convinced that we could win the semifinal match and that’s what we did. Brazil is a great opponent; it was hard coming on top. We will be mentally prepared for tomorrow, we hope to have around our neck the gold medal”.

Nicolás Vives, Head coach of Cuba: “Brazil knows how to play, they are a difficult adversary. Last night we studied them, today in the morning we practiced very well and my guys’ executions was solid. For the final, no matter which we face Chile or Argentina, we will go out to win”.

Marcelo Fronckowiak, Head coach of Brazil: “We played against Cuba’s number one team, our team is made of young players; our first team is at the Olympic qualifier, we brought a team in development, but we didn’t perform well. Cuba was superior, they pressed from the first set, they were better attacking and we couldn’t react; at least in the third set we improved and put up a fight because Cuba’s intensity scared us. Cuba played better than us, but our performance was lower than it usually is”.

Eder Carbonera, captain of Brazil: “I didn’t think we were going to play at a lower level and have so many difficulties. Despite our opponents’ strength in attack, we failed in many decisions and we changed our style, in the second and third sets we improved but it was too late. We were doing well in the tournament, of course we were aiming to reach the final but we can’t lower our heads because we must fight for the bronze”.