The setback against Poland, leader of the ranking and world runner-up, frustrated the aspiration of the Cuban volleyball team to be the only collective sport that participated, for the Island, in the Paris-2024 Olympic Games.
It was their last match in the Nations League, extremely difficult, because the Europeans presented their stars, for 3-0 (25-17, 25-20 and 25-20). Once the initial ten goals had been consumed, the Antilleans had already committed seven fouls, which reached 23 in the third period, compared to 19 for the winners.
If they had won, even 3-2, the Caribbean would add 12.85 points, but they fell 2.35 points and finished at (249.34). The defeat of the Serbs at the hands of Slovenia occurred 3-2
(13-25, 27-25, 14-25, 25-22 and 12-15), made them lose only 0.1, and they finished at (259.97). The winners led the preliminary round of the League.
The match against the Serbs, opponents for the only free Olympic place, was disconcerting. After two well-won sets, the third, given up 16-25, and the
tie break of 15-12, discouraged the fans. Cuba was left with (245.69) by (256.50) Serbia. Jesús Cruz’s boys committed 41 unforced errors!, a good amount in the service, giving away more than one set.
Against Slovenia they came from behind and showed class, in a fourth set dominated by 31-29, but their performance in the fifth (8-15) was poor. Again the failures (36) slowed the momentum, since one of the leaders was in front. Only in the shutout against Bulgaria there were fewer mistakes: 16; In the challenge against Poland, there were 23.
The repeated errors were added to the absence, in the three weeks, of the star opposites, although the effort of Michael Sánchez is recognized. Robertlandy Simón, Marlon Yant and captain Miguel Ángel López were their inspirations, well led by the versatile passer Christian Thondique. Also notable were the young center back Javier Concepción, and the receiver-attacker Osniel Mergarejo, who resolved difficult situations by replacing the opposite number.
