VARADERO, Cuba, May 4, 2025.- Cubans Noslen Díaz and Jorge Luis Alayo were crowned kings of the first stage of the 2025 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit, successfully held at this traditional venue since 2011.
Díaz and Alayo, ranked in the FIVB world top ten, claimed their first gold on home soil by convincingly defeating the experienced Nicaraguan duo of Rubén Mora and Dany López in two easy sets, 21-10 and 21-12.
“For us, this medal carries a tremendous sense of honor, pride, and sacrifice, it’s a gift to the Cuban people, and we’re incredibly happy. Playing here is very motivating; it’s a chance to be seen in our homeland and have our family and friends cheering nearby,” said an passionate Alayo to the press.
His towering partner added, “This means a lot to us. We’ve wanted to win gold here for four years. We’ve earned five medals on the world tour, but never in Varadero. This is our gift to the people and all who support us. We’ll keep fighting to bring more victories, and we’re thrilled that the final stage of this circuit is scheduled to be held right here on this wonderful beach.”
The bronze medal went to their compatriots Damián Gómez and Eblis Veranes, who dominated Puerto Rico’s Arnaldo Y. Torres and Cristian Encarnación in straight sets, 21-10 and 21-9, a remarkable achievement considering they debuted in Varadero just a year ago with a ninth-place finish.
In the semifinals, Noslen and Jorge Luis defeated Damián and Eblis 2-0 (21-16, 21-10), while the Nicaraguans Rubén and Dany edged out the Puerto Ricans Torres and Encarnación in a hard-fought 2-1 (21-16, 19-21, 17-15) battle, with the Caribbean pair pushing them to the limit in a thrilling tie-break that could have gone either way.
Fifth place went to Americans Troy Field and Ryan Wilcox, who outplayed Canada’s Steven Abrams and Tynan Gannett 2-0 (21-15, 21-19).
Seventh place was secured by fellow Americans Charles Siragusa and Dexter Campbell after defeating William Clements and Devin Van Siclen of the U.S. Virgin Islands in straight sets, 21-15 and 21-16.
Mexico’s Miguel Sarabia and Jorman Osuna finished ninth by nonattendance after one of the players of the Canadian duo, Martin Licht and Luke de Greeff, was injured and unable to compete. The eleventh position went to Costa Rica’s Justin Solano and Jevan Coronado, who overcame Honduras’ Jairo Gálvez and Irvin Reyes 2-0 (21-18, 21-10).
Mexico’s Antonio Vargas and Carlos Andrés Ayala defeated Venezuela’s Enyenser Delgado and Juliangel Zaid in a tight 2-1 match (21-23, 21-19, 20-18) to claim 13th place.
They were followed by Trinidad and Tobago’s Stephen Enile and Joel Theodore, who beat Suriname’s Joshua Dwarkasing and Dean Kasdi 2-0 (21-15, 21-11), and the Dominican Republic duo Hayerling De Jesús and Rolvin Maldonado, who won over Guatemala’s Andy Blanco and Luis García 2-0 (21-15, 21-18) to round out the standings from 15th to 18th place.
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