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DETROIT, USA (May 23, 2015)
– Cuba secured third place at the NORCECA Champions Cup on
Saturday with a 25-17, 25-22, 25-15 victory over Mexico at Joe
Louis Arena.
Cuba finishes the tournament with a 1-2 record. Mexico finishes
0-3. Neither team qualified for the FIVB World Cup, but both
brought young teams to the tournament.
Cuba led the match in kills (41-33), blocks (10-5) and aces
(6-1).
Cuban opposite Rolando Cepeda, who entered the match as the
tournament’s leading scorer, led Cuba with 14 points on 13 kills
and one ace. Outside hitter Osmany Uriarte added 13 points on 12
kills and one block.
“I'm happy for the victory. We went out in search of victory and
had a good day,” Cepeda said. “Mexico is not a major rival, but
we did not get blanked and saved our honor. In addition, we
broke a losing streak of four defeats.”
Opposite Daniel Vargas paced Mexico with 14 points on 13 kills
and one block.
“This was a good tournament for us to learn as a young team,”
Mexico Captain Tomas Aguilara said. “We need to practice a lot
and get better for World League. We have a really, really young
team. We will look to improve our service and reception, and
work together as a group.”
The first set was somewhat sloppy for both teams, as Cuba scored
seven points on Mexico errors while Mexico got four. The score
was tied at 5-5 when Cuba scored on Mexico’s error and a triple
block to gain a two-point advantage Mexico could not surmount.
With Cuba leading 15-10, Mexico made a three-point run, but it
ended with a serve into the net and Cuba responded with two
straight blocks to lead 18-13.
The second set was tighter. Mexico led 8-6 at the first
technical timeout (TTO) while Cuba led 16-13 at the second.
Trailing 19-17, Mexico took advantage of a Cuba error and a kill
to tie the score at 19-19. Cepeda responded with a kill and a
Cuba block put the Caribbean team ahead by two. Mexico tied the
score again at 22-22. But two straight kills from Cepeda and
Chapman gave Cuba set point and Cepeda ended it with an ace.
Cuba led the third set 8-7 at the first TTO and increased it to
16-13 at the second. Mexico never rallied. |
