SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, July 31, 2026. – Cuba’s Damián Gómez and Eblis Veranes reclaimed the men’s beach volleyball title at the 25th Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026, rallying from a set down to defeat Mexico’s Carlos Andrés Ayala and Inés Lares 2-1 (19-21, 22-20, 15-11) in a dramatic gold medal match.
The victory returned Cuba to the top of the podium after Mexico captured the title at the previous edition in San Salvador 2023. It also strengthened Cuba’s position as the most successful nation in the history of the event, now with five gold medals and one bronze. Mexico added its fifth silver medal to go along with one gold and two bronze.
Gómez and Veranes recovered after dropping the opening set and showed their composure in the closing stages of the second and third sets to complete the comeback. The Cubans secured the decisive tie-break 15-11 to seal the gold medal.
Earlier in the semifinals, Gómez and Veranes advanced with a 2-0 (21-16, 21-14) victory over Puerto Rico’s William Rivera and Daniel Rivera, while Carlos Andres and Lares defeated Nicaragua’s Jefferson Cascante and Rubén Mora 2-0 (21-12, 21-18).
Puerto Rico claimed the bronze medal as the Rivera duo swept Cascante and Mora 2-0 (21-14, 21-9), earning the country’s fourth medal in the history of the men’s tournament, with one gold and three bronze medals.
Costa Rica’s Julián Araya and Stanley Grant finished fifth after defeating El Salvador’s Rafael Vargas and Gabriel Vargas 2-0 (21-17, 21-16).
Venezuela’s Esyenser Delgado and Oscar Kirchner placed seventh after the host team of Hayerling De Jesús and Oscar Martínez retired because of injury.
Final standings:
1.-CUB, 2.-MEX, 3.-PUR, 4.-NCA, 5.-CRC, 6.-ESA, 7.-VEN, 8.-DOM, 9.-BIZ, 10.-GUA, 11.-SKN, 12.-CAY, 13. TTO, 14. VER, 15. HON, 16. GRN, 17. ANT, 18. ISV, 19. MQE
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