YAUCO, Puerto Rico, January 17, 2026. – The Cafeteros de Yauco once again turned the Raúl “Pipote” Oliveras Coliseum into a fortress, defeating the two-time champions Caribes de San Sebastián 3–2 (25–19, 20–25, 25–18, 20–25, 15–13) to take control of the Men’s Volleyball Superior League Final Series with a 2–0 advantage.
For the second consecutive night, the match went the distance, keeping more than 4,000 fans on the edge of their seats as they packed the venue. The Yauco squad prevailed in a contest marked by momentum swings, key executions, and an electric atmosphere that never let up.
San Sebastián managed to extend the match to the decisive set after a fourth set in which they responded after trailing 10–12 at the technical timeout. A 6–1 run, fueled by attacks from Ezequiel Cruz and Anthony Negrón, along with a service ace by Howard García, allowed the Caribes to take control down the stretch, closing out the set 25–20 to force the fifth.
The deciding set was an emotional back-and-forth. The Caribes went up 9–6 but were unable to hold the lead. Three consecutive attacks, one by Diego Negrón from position two and two by Brandon Rattray, brought Yauco back into the match, and another strong swing by Rattray put the Cafeteros ahead 12–10. Brandon Rattray finished the job with an attack from zone two to seal the 15–13 victory.
The atmosphere in Yauco played a starring role, something acknowledged by Rookie of the Year Axel Meléndez, who experienced his first finals appearance in front of a sold-out crowd.
“It’s an honor to be able to play here in Puerto Rico, to return to my roots in Yauco. You feel great seeing these fans supporting the Men’s Superior League. This is an achievement for the sport, and it will be good for the future,” Meléndez said, visibly emotional after the win.
When asked whether the series was virtually decided after two five-set victories, the young outside hitter was clear:
“No, we must keep preparing. The Caribes have a very good team. Even though we’re up 2–0, we need to keep working on our deficiencies and keep preparing.”
On the opposite side, libero Engel Mieses acknowledged that San Sebastián has not been able to find its best form in crucial moments.
“They’ve been good matches, but there’s a complex aspect that hasn’t allowed us to fully click as a team. I think there’s an emotional factor,” he commented. “The overload after the days off has been tough. In my case, I’ve been playing with an ankle injury and I know I haven’t been at 100 percent. It hurts because I know I can give more.”
Mieses also highlighted Yauco’s execution in closing moments, saying, “Yauco is a great team and they’ve been more terminal than us at the end of sets. That’s what has given them the victories.”
Looking ahead to Game 3 in San Sebastián, the libero was direct about what needs to be adjusted:
“We have to play with a sense of commitment, connect with the passion that defines us. Set aside individual play. At times we’ve looked desperate. Concentration in this setting has made the difference.”
For Yauco, Brandon Rattray and Diego Negrón led the offense with 16 and 12 points, respectively. For San Sebastián, Corey Chavers contributed 22 points, followed by Pelegrín Vargas with 14 and Anthony Negrón with 10.
The series moves to the Luis Aymat Cardona Coliseum in San Sebastián on Monday, January 19, with the match scheduled for 8:00 p.m.
The Final Series is played in a best-of-seven format; the first team to reach four victories will lift the championship trophy.
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