We hope this new generation of Cuban players will remain committed to play for the National Team and be THE group to try and bring back Cuba’s glorious days in men’s volleyball.
Cuba defeated United States in straight sets (25-16, 25-23, 25-23) on Saturday to claim its first title in the nine-year history of the Men’s Pan American Cup.
Cuban captain Rolando Cepeda, named the Most Valuable Player, led all the players in the match with 20 points. Taylor Averill and Taylor Crabb each registered 9 points for the losers.
“The victory is a product of a team effort,” Cepeda stated. “We really worked very hard to get this result and now we go back home with the gold medal to prepare for the World Championship.”
“We don’t have that much international experience and it was a great competition with really good athletes like the players from Cuba,” American Zachary La Cavera said.
In the match for the bronze medal, Argentina outdueled Puerto Rico in five sets 3-2 (25-21, 25-23, 20-25, 24-26, 18-16).
Rodrigo Villalba spearheaded Argentina with 20 points followed by Pablo Koukartsev and Facundo Imhoff with 17 and 15, respectively. Maurice Torres scored a tournament-high 32 points in the losing cause.
In the first match of Saturday, Venezuela defeated Mexico 3-1 (22-25, 25-20, 25-15, 25-23) to claim the fifth position.
Final Positions
1. Cuba
2. United States
3. Argentina
4. Puerto Rico
5. Venezuela
6. Mexico
7. Canada
8. Dominican Republic
9. Colombia
Individual Skills
MVP: Rolando Cepeda, CUB
Best Scorer: Maurice Torres, PUR
Best Scorer: Rolando Cepeda, CUB
Best Spiker: Jose Miguel Caceres, DOM
Best Blocker: Mannix Roman, PUR
Best Server: Kevin Piñerua, VEN
Best Receiver: Jose Rivera, PUR
Best Digger: Franco Lopez, ARG
Best Libero: Franco Lopez, ARG
All-Star
Outside Hitter: Javier Jimenez, CUB
Outside Hitter: Rodrigo Villalba, ARG
Middle Blocker: Mannix Roman, PUR
Middle Blocker: David Fiel, CUB
Opposite: Jose Miguel Caceres, DOM
Setter: Robert Boldog, USA
Libero: Franco Lopez, ARG
Top Scorers
102- Maurice Torres, PUR
102- Rolando Cepeda, CUB
84- Jose Miguel Caceres, DOM
84- Kevin Piñerua, VEN
75- Javier Jimenez, CUB
67- Pablo Koukartsev, ARG
64- Rodrigo Villalba, ARG
61- Zachary La Cavera, USA
56- Dallas Soonias, CAN
54- Daniel Vargas, MEX
54- Osmany Uriarte, CUB
More Blocks
21- Mannix Roman, PUR
14- David Fiel, CUB
12- Isbel Mesa, CUB
11- Pedrito Sierra, PUR
10- Freddy Cedeño, VEN
10- Jesus Chourio, VEN
More Aces
10- Maurice Torres, PUR
9- Kevin Piñerua, VEN
8- Javier Jimenez, CUB
6- Toontje Van Lankvelt, CAN
Top Scorer by Day
28- Kevin Piñerua of Venezuela v Canada on 11-8-14
16- Jose Miguel Cáceres of Dominican Republic v Puerto Rico on 12-8-14
27- Dallas Soonias of Canada v Argentina on 13-8-14
26- Jose Miguel Caceres of Dominican Republic v Colombia on 14-8-14
26- Rolando Cepeda of Cuba v Argentina on 15-8-14
32- Maurice Torres of Puerto Rico v Argentina on 16-8-14
Top Scoring Performances
32- Maurice Torres of Puerto Rico v Argentina on 16-8-14
28- Kevin Piñerua of Venezuela v Canada on 11-8-14
27- Dallas Soonias of Canada v Argentina on 13-8-14
26- Jose Miguel Caceres of Dominican Republic v Colombia on 14-8-14
26- Rolando Cepeda of Cuba v Argentina on 15-8-14
Top Blocking Performances
7- Fredy Cedeño of Venezuela v Canada on 11-8-14
7- Isbel Mesa of Cuba v Venezuela on 14-8-14
6- Mannix Roman of Puerto Rico v Dominican Republic on 12-8-14
6- Jesus Chourio of Venezuela v Mexico on 16-8-14
Top Serving Performances
4- Kevin Pinerua of Venezuela v Cuba on 14-8-14
3- Toontje Van Lankvelt of Canada v Argentina on 13-8-14
3- Andres Piza of Colombia v Dominican Republic on 14-8-14
3- Mannix Roman of Puerto Rico v Mexico on 14-8-14
Top Team Blocking Performances
20- Cuba v Venezuela on 14-8-14
16- Venezuela v Canada on 11-8-14
14- Puerto Rico v Mexico on 14-8-14
14- Venezuela v Mexico on 16-8-14
14- Puerto Rico v Argentina on 16-8-14
Top Team Serving Performances
9- Canada v Argentina on 13-8-14
9- Canada v Dominican Republic on 15-8-14
8- Cuba v Venezuela on 14-8-14
Highest Scoring Sets
35-33 Argentina v Venezuela (2nd Set) on 12-8-14
31-29 United States v Mexico (1st Set) on 13-8-14
31-29 Venezuela v Cuba (4th Set) on 14-8-14
30-28 Venezuela v Canada (4th Set) on 11-8-14
28-26 Puerto Rico v Dominican Republic (3rd Set) on 12-8-14
28-26 United States v Puerto Rico (1st Set) on 15-8-14
Highest Scoring Matches
223- Argentina d Puerto Rico 3-2 (25-21, 25-23, 20-25, 24-26, 18-16) on 16-8-14
220- Argentina d Canada 3-2 (25-18, 21-25, 25-22, 23-25, 19-17) on 13-8-14
215- Cuba d Venezuela 3-2 (23-25, 25-20, 25-16, 29-31, 15-6) on 14-8-14
211- Cuba d Puerto Rico 3-2 (18-25, 26-24, 25-20, 21-25, 15-12) on 11-8-14
210- Cuba d Argentina 3-2 (25-22, 25-18, 19-25, 23-25, 15-13) on 15-8-14
209- Canada d Dominican Republic 3-2 (25-21, 22-25, 22-25, 25-16, 15-13) on 15-8-14
(images: norceca.net)
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