GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, July 31, 2025.– Costa Rica defeated Suriname 3-1 (25-18, 23-25, 25-22, 25-20) to advance for the quarterfinals of the Men’s U23 Pan American Cup, held at the Domo Polideportivo in Zone 13 of the Guatemalan capital.
A first set full of constant exchanges and long rallies kept the score tight until point 11, when Costa Rica managed to pull ahead by a small margin. In the second set, Suriname took control of the game and tied the match 1-1. However, Costa Rica regained the initiative in the third and fourth sets, securing the victory.
With this result, Costa Rica closes the Pool A with 1 win and 2 losses, while Suriname finishes winless with 3 defeats. By ending in third place in the group, Costa Rica will face the United States in the quarterfinals.
Costa Rica’s head coach Cesar Salas said, “Part of our goal was to reach the quarterfinals, and we achieved it. It was hard work; we made a couple of changes that worked well for us. Tomorrow against the United States will be a very tough match. They are a very powerful team, and in terms of height, they have a big advantage over us. We will try to do our best.”
Suriname’s captain Faiq Lobo stated, “I think my team fought very hard today. Unfortunately, we couldn’t win the match because it was very important. Still, I am happy with my team because we played a tough match today.”
English 
Spanish