Peru Stuns Cuba and Will Play for the U23 Pan American Cup Gold

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, September 20, 2024.- Peru stunned Cuba by winning the semifinal of the 2024 Men’s U23 Pan American Cup in five thrilling sets 3-2 (25-13, 18-25, 25-18, 23-25, 15-12) on Friday at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal in Paramaribo, Suriname.

This was the second consecutive five-set match for Peru, their third of the tournament. Peru reaches the gold medal match for the first time in the history of the Cup; last year, they won bronze, their first medal.  

Peru will face the winner of the other semifinal between Guatemala and Mexico on Saturday at 5:00 pm. Cuba will face the loser at 3:00 pm in search of their first bronze medal in the history of the event, having previously won three gold medals (2014, 2018, 2023) and one silver in 2016. 

Although Cuba dominated every skill, attacks (60-53), blocks (14-7), and service (7-6), Peru committed fewer errors (22-31) to secure the win. 

The top scorer of the game was Peru’s captain Leonel Despaigne with 24 points (22 attacks, 2 aces). Outside hitters Gerardo Chicoma and Piero Porras contributed to the South American victory with 18 and 11 points, respectively. 

Cuba’s top scorer was outside hitter Bryan Camino with 21 points (19 attacks, 2 aces), followed by middle blocker Thiago Suárez with 20 points (19 attacks, 1 ace). Middle blocker Jakdiel Contreras added 10 points. 

Cuba started with a seven-point lead (10-3) thanks to the attacks of Bryan Camino and Thiago Suárez. Cuba never trailed, closing the first set with a huge margin. Peru managed a three-point lead (5-2) to start the second set with the offense of Piero Porras, Gerardo Chicoma, and Leonel Despaigne. As the set progressed, Peru maintained the lead, doubling Cuba’s points with quick plays, solid defense, and pressure from their serve (16-8). A block by Peruvian middle blocker Andrew Luján on Thiago tied the match. Cuba recovered by jumping to a comfortable lead in the third set, with powerful attacks and taking advantage of Peru’s errors. Cuba won the third with a spike by Thiago. In the fourth set, Cuba held the lead (14-12), with Carlos Pereira joining the offense, but Peru stayed close with Luis Ñiquen scoring along with Chicoma and Despaigne to tie at 22, then 23, and went on to force a fifth set with a kill from Edgar Vértiz and a Cuban error.  Peru started the tie-break ahead 4-1, and although Cuba tied at points 9, 10, and 11, Peru always stayed in front, closing the match with an ace from Despaigne. 

Diego Recavarren, Head coach of Peru:  “We didn’t give up. We knew Cuba was a superior opponent, but when you play very closely, they make a lot of mistakes, and that was the key. The team is proving to be very tenacious despite the height limitations, but we have developed a compact game system, and that’s why we are in the final”.

Leonel Despaigne, captain of Peru: “We were thinking a lot about this match. Cuba is incredibly strong, and we were eager for revenge from last year against them (at least for me, as I played in the Cup in Cuba). I’m super happy. Beating Cuba is the ultimate. We played very organized, listened well, and we are very united and determined, we never give up on any ball”.