Dominicans to defend their only title

BARRANQUILLA, Colombia, July 26, 2018 – Defending champions Dominican Republic are one of the eight teams registered to participate in the male volleyball tournament of the XXIII Central American and Caribbean Games to be played at Humberto Perea Coliseum from July 28 to August 2.

The Dominicans surprised more than one when took home the men’s crown at the last edition of the Games held in Veracruz, Mexico.

Before their gold medal in Mexico four years ago, the best finish for a Dominican side had been two silver medals attained in 1962 at Kingston, Jamaica and Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic in 1986.

The defending champions will play in Pool A together with Cuba, Venezuela and Mexico. The Pool B consists of teams of Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, Guatemala and host Colombia.

The winners of the pools will earn direct tickets to the semifinal phase while the teams placed in second and third will compete in the quarterfinals.

In the history of the Games, Cuba has won the men’s tournament ten times, including nine in a row from 1966 to 1998. Mexico is next with six titles and Puerto Rico has won four times.

Puerto Rico and Guatemala are scheduled to open the competition on July 28 at 15:00 local time, followed by the match between Cuba and Venezuela at 17:00. Dominican Republic will play Mexico at 19:00 while Colombia will square off Trinidad & Tobago at 21:00.

The preliminary round schedule is the following:

July 28

15:00    Puerto Rico v Guatemala

17:00    Cuba v Venezuela

19:00    Dominican Republic v Mexico

21:00    Colombia v Trinidad & Tobago

July 29

15:00    Trinidad & Tobago v Puerto Rico

17:00    Venezuela v Dominican Republic

19:00    Cuba v Mexico

21:00    Colombia v Guatemala

July 30

15:00    Guatemala v Trinidad & Tobago

17:00    Mexico v Venezuela

19:00    Dominican Republic v Cuba

21:00    Colombia v Puerto Rico

Men’s Year by Year Podiums at CACG

Men’s Volleyball Composite Medal Table