BRIENVENGAT , Curaçao, July 20, 2026. – Trinidad and Tobago secured the bronze medal at the 2026 CAZOVA Men’s Final Four Championship after defeating The Bahamas 3-1 in an exciting third-place playoff on Monday evening at the SDK Sports Complex.
Having already beaten The Bahamas in the preliminary round, Trinidad and Tobago once again proved too strong, claiming the match 25-20, 25-27, 29-27, 25-22.
Trinidad and Tobago made a confident start, opening a 15-9 lead in the first set. The Bahamas fought back to narrow the gap to 17-15, forcing Trinidad and Tobago to call a timeout. The break paid off immediately as TTO regained control, extending their advantage to 20-15 before closing out the set 25-20.
The second set was a tightly contested affair, with both teams level through 10-10, to 14-14. Trinidad and Tobago appeared to take command after opening a 20-16 lead, but The Bahamas responded brilliantly after a timeout, once again battling through ties at 21-21, to 25-25 before edging the set 27-25.
The third set produced the match’s biggest drama. Neither side could gain separation as the score remained tied at 12-12, all the way to 27-27. With the pressure at its highest, Akim Bushe delivered a thunderous match-defining kill to seal the set 29-27 and restore Trinidad and Tobago’s advantage.
The fourth set continued at a frantic pace, with the teams locked at 2-2, to 16-16. Team TTO held a slim 20-19 lead before producing a strong finish, ending the contest with a decisive block to secure a 25-22 victory and the bronze medal.
Proud of the work done by his entire contingent, Coach Gideon Dickson explained that this victory goes beyond the title. The team was able to earn crucial fivb points for the country, and places confidence in the youths, with guidance of the seniors, who will now lead TTO volleyball to success in the future.
The win marks Trinidad and Tobago’s second victory over The Bahamas during the tournament and caps off their campaign with a place on the podium, while The Bahamas finish fourth after another spirited performance.
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