Mexico’s Carlos Andrés/Lares Capture Gold in Ciudad Madero

CIUDAD MADERO, Tamaulipas, Mexico, May 24, 2026.- Mexican duo Carlos Andrés Ayala and Inés Lares captured the gold medal at the fourth stop of the 2026 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour held in Ciudad Madero, after defeating Cuba’s Damián Gómez and Eblis Veranes in a hard-fought final that went to three sets, 21-13, 18-21, 15-9.

With this result, Carlos Andrés/Lares claimed their second gold medal of the 2026 season, having also won the second stop of the circuit in Güibia.

The Mexicans set the pace early in the match with a strong performance in the opening set. However, Gómez/Veranes responded in the second set to level the match and force a tie-break. In the decisive set, Carlos Andrés/Lares regained control through effective offense and consistent defense to secure the victory in front of their home crowd.

In the semifinals, Gómez/Veranes advanced to the gold medal match after defeating Canadians Rouzbeh Rahnavard and Robert Kemp 2-0 (21-17, 21-16). Meanwhile, Carlos Andrés/Lares won the all-Mexican semifinal 2-0 (21-15, 21-0) after Jorman Osuna and Miguel Sarabia were unable to continue the match due to injury.

The bronze medal was awarded to Rahnavard/Kemp after Osuna/Sarabia were unable to compete in the bronze medal match following their withdrawal during the semifinals.

FINAL RANKING

1.Carlos Andrés Ayala / Inés Lares (MEX2); 2. Damián Gómez / Eblis Veranes (CUB); 3. Rouzbeh Rahnavard / Robert Kemp (CAN); 4. Jorman Osuna / Miguel Sarabia (MEX); 5. Cristian Encarnación / William Rivera (PUR); 6. Rubén Mora / Jefferson Cascante (NCA); 7. Edgar Maldonado / José Izaguirre (GUA); 8. Hayerling De Jesús / Oscar Martínez (DOM); 9. Julián Araya / Stanley Grant (CRC); 10. Christopher Guardado / Yoel Guardado (ESA); 11. Jared Brown / Zayden Turner (ISV); 12. Paul Lotman / Brian Miller (USA); 13. Franklin Segura / Ramón De Jesús (DOM2); 14. Benjamin Barnett / Braedon Cooke (BER)

RESULTS DAY 3

GOLD MEDAL: Carlos Andrés / Lares (MEX1) 2-1 Gómez/Veranes (CUB) (21-13, 18-21 y 15-9)

BRONZE MEDAL: Rahnavard/Kemp (CAN) 2-0 Osuna/Sarabia (21-0/21-0)

SEMIFINALS: Gómez/Veranes (CUB) 2-0 Rahnavard/Kemp (CAN) (21-17/21-16); Carlos Andrés / Lares (MEX1) 2-0 Osuna/Sarabia (MEX2) (21-15/21-0)

Final 5th Place: Encarnacion/Rivera (PUR) 2-1 Mora/Cascante (NCA) (21-15/12-21/15-12); Final 7th Place: Maldonado/Izaguirre (GUA) 2-0 De Jesus/Martinez (DOM) (21-0/21-0); Final 9th Place: Araya/Grant (CRC) 2- 0 Guardado C./Guardado Y. (ESA) (21-18/21-13); Final 11th Place: Brown/Turner (ISV) 2-0 Lotman/Miller (USA) (21-0/21-0); Final 13h Place: Segura/De Jesus (DOM) 2-0 Barnett/Cooke (BER) 2-0 (21-9, 21-13).

Quarterfinals Loser: Mora/Cascante NCA 2-0 Maldonado/Izaguirre GUA (21-16/22-20); Encarnacion/Rivera (PUR) 2-1 De Jesus/Martinez DOM (21-19, 13-21, 15-11).