Peru dominates Cuba 3-0 in pool C 

Guadalajara, August 16, 2023.- Peru achieved an important victory in pool C by defeating defending champion Cuba in straight sets 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-19) on second day of the XVI Men’s Senior Pan-American Volleyball Cup.

Cuba lost to Colombia on the first day and Peru to Mexico. In the duel to try to advance to next round, the Peruvians arrived more focused and took advantage of the 32 points for errors from their opponents, only committing 12.

Peru took advantage of the attacks 39-30, but Cuba was better in blocking 10-5 and in serves 3-2. But the unforced errors were what tipped the scales in favor of Peru, which has a 1-1 record and will face off against Colombia this Thursday, while Cuba (0-2) will face Mexico.

The Peruvian captain, Eduardo Romay, finished with 14 points, while Sebastián Blanco and Maikel Jaramillo finished with 8 points each. Meanwhile, Cuba had Yohan León, with 12 points, as its best scorer.

Juan Carlos Gala, coach of Peru: “The team played much better today, we organized our tactics, and it was an even match, unfortunately Cuba was not in its day, they could not play with their serve and that weakens them. We are happy, we come to this, to learn and when you win you also learn; It is one of the virtues that we have that we always try to learn something new. Now we wait for the match against Colombia”.

The middle blocker Daniel Urueña, from Peru: “Yesterday we were left with a bitter taste of not defeating the host, but today we came out more focused and organized to face Cuba, which is a power team, and we managed to get the victory. The strategy and discipline we had made the difference today.”

Mario Izquierdo, coach of Cuba: “We drew up a technical plan and we were not able to comply with it. We were playing even when the indications that the technical group raised were fulfilled, but after point 15, the athletes were not able to maintain tactical discipline while Peru fulfilled this better than us. We fell with our reception again and our complex 1 (K1) has not been very effective”.