Mexico outlasts Puerto Rico for bronze

GATINEAU, CANADA. Aug. 25, 2024: In a back-and-forth match for the podium, Mexico came out on top and goes home with the bronze medal from the 2024 edition of the Men’s Final Six at the Slush Puppie Centre in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada.

The final score was 3-2 (21-25, 25-17, 25-18, 23-25, 15-11).

Mexico led in 59-57 attack points and ace serves 8-6, while Puerto Rico led in blocks 10-9, but made more errors 33-23.

Jamal Ellis Carballo of Puerto Rico led all scoring with 24 points.

Mauro Isaac Fuentes Rascon and Yasutaka Sanay Heredia (with 2 blocks and three aces) each had 17 points for Mexico.

Puerto Rico finishes in fourth position.

Mexico’s head coach Carlos Schwanke said:  “The difference today was they were willing to win… We started in May to try to build a team and after three months, we achieved a bronze medal in an amazing tournament. So I'm happy to end up like that…. We had to change our strategy in the middle of the second set. And this, I think, contributed to us coming back, and also for the guys to believe more, because after the last defeat against Puerto Rico, I thought they were a little bit down. So this is a good achievement for us, and also a really good comeback for the players.”

Mexican player Yasutaka Sanay Heredia #10 : “Our objective here at this tournament was for the gold medal, so we are not fully satisfied.  We still have some details to work out. It is good that we won today and will not go home empty-handed.”