PONCE, Puerto Rico, May 14, 2024. – Cuba defeated Suriname 3-0 (25-12, 25-19, 29-27) in the opening match of the Boys’ U19 NORCECA Continental Championship at the Salvador Dijols Coliseum in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Despite Cuba starting with confidence and power, Suriname did not let themselves be intimidated, pressing with their blocking, and serving, reaching set point (24-21) in the third set, trying to force the match to extend.
Cuba led in kills 44 to 19, while Suriname outperformed in blocking 7-4. Both teams scored five service points. Cuba made fewer errors than Suriname (24-28).
Cuba’s outside hitter Andy Lázarro Marrero was the top scorer of the match with 13 points (12 attacks, one block). Cuba’s opposite player Yosdani Medina and Suriname’s outside hitter Gianni Ritfeld scored 11 points each.
On the second day of the preliminary round, Cuba will face Canada and Suriname will face the United States in pool A.
Ronaldo Flaquet, captain of Cuba: “The final minutes were very exciting; we complicated things for ourselves because we got too confident after winning the first two sets. The important thing is that we were able to solve it and get a positive result. We started with confidence in ourselves, but overconfidence made it difficult for us to close”.
Jayden Koendjbiharie, captain of Suriname: “We gave it our all; we definitely fought with more power in the last set and almost won it. For the next match, we will come out with the same energy and fight better. Today, we should have put in more effort”.
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