Cuba tops Pool A at Men’s Pan American Cup

COLIMA, Mexico, June 18, 2019. - Cuba beat Suriname 3-0 (25-11, 25-15, 25-10) to finish first place in pool A of the fourteenth Men’s Pan American Cup at the Mulfunctional Auditorium of Colima, Mexico.

Cuba tops pool A (3-0) and awaits for the full day results to see if the results were enough to earn a bye into semifinals or play in Wednesday’s quarterfinals. Suriname finishes fourth place win-less (0-3).

Cubans had no difficulties coming out on top with impressive 35-19 margin in spikes and 13-2 advantage in aces; they also held 9-1 margin in blocks. Cuba committed 14 errors and Suriname a total of 18.

Wing spiker Yohan Leon led Cuba with 15 points on 11 kills and 4 aces; opposite Jaime Herrera contributed with 11 points, including 5 aces, and wing spiker Miguel Angel Lopez added 10 points on 9 kills and one block. Cuban captain Livan Osoria chipped in with 6 monster blocks. On Suriname’s side, opposite Zefanio Breinburg and wing spiker Keven Sporkslede scored 7 and 6 points accordingly.

Comments:

Livan Osoria, captain Cuba: “Analyzing our pool back home, we knew it was going to be difficult to face the defending champion Argentina, Canada that plays strong and Suriname; we respect them all and we always went out to win. Now we wait for the point definition to know if we rest”.

Nicolás Vives, coach Cuba: “We reached our goal, win the group and leaving Suriname with little points as possible; we now wait and what’s most important, keep on playing”.

Roberto Joval, coach Suriname: “I thought we started good, but unfortunately it didn’t last, we were facing Cuba, a big volleyball country. Suriname is upcoming and it was a good experience this feeling, go back home and learn from that point forward”.