Guatemala Kicks Off  the U23 Pan American Cup with a 5-Set Thriller over Peru

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, September 16, 2024. - Guatemala kicked off the U23 Men’s Pan American Cup with a thrilling five-set victory 3-2 (22-25, 25-23, 25-21, 24-26, 15-11) over Peru at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal in Paramaribo, Suriname. 

The U23 Pan American Cup grants two spots to NORCECA (non-qualified) teams for the second edition of the Junior Pan American Games in Asunción 2025. 

On the second day of competition in Pool B, Peru (0-1) will face Saint Vincent, and Guatemala (1-0) will play against the host, Suriname. 

Guatemala recovered from losing the first set, overcoming Peru with a comfortable lead in blocks (13-6) and aces (3-1). Peru had the advantage in attacks, 75-65. Guatemala conceded fewer points on unforced errors, 24-30. 

Five Guatemalan players scored in double digits, led by Pablo Pérez (27, including a match-high of 5 blocks), Yeferson Zavala (15), José Samayoa (12), Roberto Recinos (11), and Christian Alvarez (11). 

The top scorer of the match was Peru’s Leonel Despaigne with 34 points, all on kills. Piero Porras contributed 11 points for Peru. 

Leonel Despaigne and Piero Porras helped Peru build a four-point lead (15-11) in the first set and go up 1-0, despite two attacks by Guatemala’s José Samayoa stealing two set points. Gerardo Chicoma joined Peru’s offense, but Guatemala, with Pablo Pérez and Yeferson Zavala, tied the score at 16 points in the second set and then jumped to a three-point lead (19-16) to even the match. Guatemala came from behind in the third set (6-10) to tie at 12 points and never trailed again, with Zavala leading the offense, along with efforts from Roberto Recinos and Christian Alvarez. 

The teams traded leads in the fourth set, which Peru eventually won in overtime, 26-24, with two attack points from Vicente Plana and Despaigne. In the tiebreak, after tying at 10 points, Pérez put Guatemala ahead with two powerful attacks. Despaigne responded (11-12), but Guatemala secured the victory with three consecutive points: an attack from Alvarez, a block by Julián Carmona, and an opponent’s error. 

Yeferson Zavala, captain of Guatemala: “It was a very tough five-set match. I feel that what helped us was raising our spirits when our strength was running out. We were able to block their best attacker, who scored the most points (#6), and that also contributed to our victory”.

Leonel Despaigne, captain of Peru: “It was a very tough match. We didn’t know how to close at the end, which is when true players shine. We’re going to bounce back from this match, the competition is just starting, and there’s still a lot more to come from Peru. In the fourth set, we were very tenacious”.