The Cuban men’s volleyball team lost this Tuesday with a score of 2-3 against their Mexican counterpart, at the start of the Final Six of the Norceca Pan-American Cup, in the Canadian city of Edmonton.
The island team achieved victories of 26-24 and 25-22 in the early stages, but their rivals were able to take advantage of the instability of the following rounds to seal the victory with scores of 25-18, 25-17 and 15-9, depending on goodbye there Cuban News Agency (ACN).
Mexico comes back from two sets down to defeat Cuba in a thrilling five-set thriller in the NORCECA men’s Final Six
🇲🇽 3 – 2 (24-26, 22-25, 25-18, 25-17, 15-8)
J. Lopez (6) 🇲🇽 – 16 pts
A. Gonzalez (9) 🇨🇺 – 33 ptsMore info: click the link in bio pic.twitter.com/ewGr2Ge4CD
– NorcecaInfo (@Norceca_Info) September 19, 2023
Cuba presented at the tournament a team from the under-21 category, knowing that the main figures make up the team that will participate in the coming days in the qualifying competition for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which will take place in Brazil.
The midfielder adds that coach Mario Raúl Izquierdo started opposite Alejandro Miguel González, assistants José Ramón Gómez and Yusniel Martí, central defenders Jakdiel Contreras and Ángel Suárez, passer Adrián Chirino and Álvaro Luis Ricardo, acting as libero .
The Cubans’ initial superiority disappeared as the match progressed, particularly due to the difficulties experienced in receiving and serving.
This Wednesday they will take the field again in search of the first victory of the tournament in a duel with Puerto Rico, which started this competition with a 1-3 defeat against the local representative.
In the other result from the opening date, Team USA comfortably won in straight sets against Team Dominican Republic and will now face Team Mexico, while the Canadians and Dominicans will close the second day of the tournament with their duel.
For Cuba, the remaining matches are scheduled against the hosts (Thursday), against the Dominican Republic (Friday) and against the Americans (Saturday).
Canada 🇨🇦 defeats Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 3-1 in NORCECA Men’s Final Six
🇨🇦 3-1 (25-15, 25-20, 23-25, 25-20)
I. Heslinga (24) 🇨🇦 – 23 pts
K. Lawrence (2) 🇵🇷 – 16 ptsMore info: click the link in bio#norceque #gobeyondyourlimits #volleyball #fivb #norcecafinalsixm pic.twitter.com/rpzmBYt03w
– NorcecaInfo (@Norceca_Info) September 20, 2023
The first two places in the qualifying segment will face off on Sunday for the title, while those in third and fourth place will compete for the bronze medal.
Cuba won the title in the previous edition of this tournament, escorted by Canada and the United States. In the 2021 version, the podium was occupied by Mexicans, Canadians and Americans, in that order.
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