Defending Champion Brazil Advances

to the Gold Medal Match at Asunción 2025

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 21, 2025.- Brazil will have the opportunity to defend its Junior Pan American title after advancing to the men’s volleyball gold medal match at Asunción 2025 with a dramatic semifinal victory over Cuba 3-2 (14-25, 25-17, 26-24, 23-25, 15-11).

It was Brazil’s second win over Cuba in the tournament; however, unlike the pool stage where they swept in straight sets, this time the Caribbean side pushed the match to the limit. Brazil will now face the winner between Mexico and Argentina.

Cuba started strong, capitalizing on attacks from Alejandro González and Bryan Camino, an ace by Yusniel González, and Brazilian errors to build a five-point lead (12-7) and take the opening set with solid blocking led by Yusniel and Alexis Wilson.

In the second set, Brazil responded with power. After tying at 6 points, they took control of the scoreboard, boosted by 13 Cuban errors and the performances of middle blocker Thiery Oliveira and outside hitter Guilherme Amorim.

The third set was intense: Brazil pulled ahead midway through, but Cuba caught up to tie at 22 and 23. Amorim put Brazil at set point, and two Cuban errors (serve and attack) handed the set to the defending champions 26-24.

In the fourth, Brazil led until 16-all, when Cuba rallied. Camino and Yusniel González pushed the Caribbean squad ahead, and an attack by Alejandro González sealed the 25-23 win to force a tie-break.

In the decisive set, Brazil surged ahead with offense from Samuel Carazzai and Maicon dos Santos. Cuba leveled the score at 9, but a relentless finish from Amorim, Maicon, and a block by Marcos José Gonçalves secured Brazil’s 15-11 victory.

Brazil outperformed Cuba in blocks (15-12) and committed fewer errors (28 to 39). Cuba led in attacks (54-47) and service aces (8-2).

For Brazil, three players tied as top scorers with 13 points each: Guilherme Amorim, Thiery Oliveira, and Maicon dos Santos. For Cuba, Alejandro González led all scorers with 21 points, followed by Yusniel González with 20, Bryan Camino with 13, and Alexis Wilson with 11.

Brazilian setter Gustavo Cardoso said after the victory: “It was supposed to be calm. We trained for this, to have a moment of tranquility on the court, but it really made our hearts race. It’s fantastic to play against Cuba! It’s fantastic to play with the Brazilian national team, and it’s a privilege to be here and contribute.”