Volleyball
Havana, June 20 (ACN) The Cuban men’s team lost 0-3 in group B against Puerto Rico and went to the quarterfinals of the I Pan American Cup of North, Central America and the Caribbean (Norceca) under 17 volleyball , in the Multifunctional Auditorium of Colima, Mexico, where today they will face Guatemala.
After defeating Nicaragua 3-0 in their debut this Tuesday with scores of 25-14, 25-17 and 25-12, the disciples of technical director Frank Almendariz Dávalos fell 0-3 (24-26, 23-25 and 17 -25) against the Puerto Ricans, who had their main weapon in the attack.
According to the site www.norceca.net, Almendariz’s pupils were only better in blocking, seven points to six, since Carlos de Sevilla’s men surpassed them in attack (40-34), service (7-2) and the own errors that give so many to the rivals (21-23).
The official individual statistics highlighted that the top scorer of the match was the Cuban Samuel Alejandro Rodríguez, with 15 points, 12 on the attack, two on the block and one on the serve, followed by the Puerto Rican Maximiliano Aponte (14/9-2- 3).
Also standing out with double digits were the Puerto Ricans Gustavo Antonio Álvarez (13/13-0-0), Antonio Alejandro Carrillo (10/9-1-0) and Jorge Carlos Suárez (10/6-3-1).
With that result, the largest of the Antilles was in second place in section B, with a victory and a loss, and moved on to the quarterfinals, a stage in which it will meet Guatemala (1-2), third in section A, while the Puerto Ricans (2-0), first in A, advanced directly to the semifinals.
In key A, this Tuesday the Guatemalans (1-2), third, won, who beat the Costa Ricans (0-3), fourth, 3-1 (25-18, 27-25, 22-25 and 27-25). , and the Mexican team (3-0), first, which won 3-2 (25-22, 25-21, 20-25, 19-25 and 15-) of the Canadian team (2-1), second.
Mexico will accompany Puerto Rico in this Saturday’s semifinal matches, awaiting the winners of Friday’s quarterfinals, while the losers will discuss the fifth through seventh spots.
The Cup is part of the qualification system for the 2025 Norceca Continental Championship and the 2026 World Championship, in both cases of the category.
