Puerto Rico Wraps Up Pool-Play with Victory over Guatemala

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 28, 2025.– Puerto Rico wrapped up the preliminary round of the Senior Men’s Pan American Cup with a 3-1 (25-21, 21-25, 25-20, 25-17) victory over Guatemala, in the final day of pool play at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

With a 1-2 record, Puerto Rico secured third place in Pool B, while Guatemala finished fourth with a 0-3 record. Both teams will move on to classification matches, awaiting their opponents once pool play concludes.

Puerto Rico controlled the first set, although Guatemala managed to save two set points with a service error and an attack from Gerardo González, until Omar Hoyos closed the set with a kill. Guatemala responded in the second set, driven by middle blocker Jason Hernández and outside hitter Andy Leonardo, who kept the Central Americans ahead to level the match 1-1.

In the third set, after a 17-point tie, Puerto Rico took control with the performances of Jamal Ellis and captain Pedro Molina. The Puerto Ricans maintained the pressure and raised their level of play in the fourth set to secure the win.

Puerto Rico outperformed Guatemala in the main scoring categories: attacks (55-48), blocks (10-6), and service points (4-0). Errors were almost even, with Puerto Rico committing 29 to Guatemala’s 27.

Opposite hitter Jamal Ellis led all scorers with 19 points (13 kills, 5 blocks, one ace). Captain Pedro Molina also contributed 17 points (14 kills, one block, 2 aces), along with Omar Hoyos who added 13 (11 kills, one block, one ace).

For Guatemala, captain Carlos López led with 16 points, all on kills. Andy Leonardo and Jason Hernández chipped in 10 points each.

Jamal Ellis said about the match: “Puerto Rico has a lot of potential on the bench, and today there was an opportunity to make changes in the lineup, everyone knows how to do their job. We lost a set because of a lack of focus, sometimes we let emotions control us. We couldn’t find our rhythm until the third set, and the finish was good, but we’ve shown that we have a higher level of play.”

Guatemalan setter Adolfo Rivas said: “We tried to fight, but we dropped our intensity in the third set. I think the good attitude we showed in the first two sets was fundamental, but then we turned it off. We need to maintain that attitude for the upcoming matches.”