PARAMARIBO, Suriname, September 21, 2024. – Cuba won the bronze medal at the 2024 Men’s U23 Pan American Cup by defeating Guatemala 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-15) at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal in Paramaribo, Suriname on the last day of competition.
Cuba wrapped up the tournament with a 4-1 record to win their first bronze medal in the history of the event. Cuba has an overall of five medals: 3 gold, one silver and one bronze. While Guatemala ended 4-2.
Cuba led in attacks (41-28), blocks (16-7), and aces (5-4), but conceded more points on errors (19-12).
Cuba’s top scorers were middle blockers Thiago Suárez with 15 points (12 attacks, 3 blocks) and Jakdiel Contreras with 11 points (6 attacks, 5 blocks). Outside hitter Bryan Camino added 10 points.
Opposite hitter Pablo Pérez and captain Yeferson Zavala each scored 11 points for Guatemala.
Guatemala managed to take a 12-11 lead in the first set with a block by middle blocker Christian Alvarez on Jakdiel Contreras. With the score close at 22-20 in Cuba’s favor, Daniel Martínez scored with a kill and an ace, followed by a kill from Contreras, giving Cuba the first set. In the second set, the score remained tight, and Guatemala once again took the lead 12-11 with an ace from Daniel Ralón and then 13-12 with a block from Yeferson Zavala. An attack from Pablo Pérez put Guatemala ahead 15-14, extending to a two-point lead (17-15). For Cuba, it was a back-and-forth struggle, regaining the lead and then losing it, but Daniel Martínez’s pressure on the service line pushed them to a 21-18 advantage. With an attack from Zavala and another from Alvarez, plus a Cuban error, Guatemala tied the set at 21 points, but Cuba captured the set. Cuba elevated their level of play in the third set, gaining a significant advantage over Guatemala and sealing the bronze medal with a block by Daniel Martínez.
Jesús Angel Cruz, Head coach of Cuba: “After yesterday’s defeat, it was hard to lift the spirits of the guys because our goal was to win the title. Today we came out to win the bronze. Coming into the event already qualified for the Junior Pan American Games allowed us to see some players who hadn’t had much court time”.
Reider Lucas Mora, Head coach of Guatemala: “Today the boys were less pressured than yesterday. I think against Mexico, their desire to do well didn’t allow them to focus, and we couldn’t get into a rhythm. Today, we did things a bit better, knowing it would be difficult against Cuba’s tall blocking. This tournament was very important because we qualified for the Junior Pan American Games, and it helped us see new players in this category”.
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