Cuba and Chile begin friendly series in Havana

HAVANA, Cuba, December 28, 2019 – The men’s national teams of Cuba and Chile played the first of three friendly matches ahead of the Qualification Tournaments Tokyo 2020 of the NORCECA and South American Confederations to take place in Vancouver, Canada and Santiago, the Chilean capital from January 10 to 12.

In the three-set opening match at Escuela Nacional de Voleibol in Havana, the visitors claimed two after arriving in the island on Thursday after winning a historic bronze medal at the South American Championship behind Brazil and Argentina, two of the seven teams already qualified to the Olympics.

At home in January, the Chileans will face the challenge of Venezuela, Peru and Colombia for the ticket available for the South American Confederation. In Vancouver, the Cubans will open against Puerto Rico followed by the match against the home side before closing against Mexico, teams with different characteristics but of high level and international experience.

Of the 14 Cubans in the team expected to travel, only Robertlandy Simon and Roamy Alonso missed the match as they are returning from Italy on Saturday.

The Cubans will play another friendly series at home against Venezuela on January 3-5 while the Chileans are to receive the Dominican Republic in Santiago.