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GATINEAU, August 9, 2022- Cuba
opened its title defense campaign with a 3-0
(25-17, 25-20 and 28-26) victory over Chile in
Pool A action of the 15th Pan American Cup at
the Slush Puppy Centre in Gatineau, Canada.
Coming from their recent victory at the
Challenger Cup and qualification to the 2023
Volleyball Nations League, Cuba started out
strongly, leading 8-4 at the first technical
time-out and 16-10 in the second one. The Cuban
kept their solid display on court and went on to
win 25-17.
At the second set, Dusan Bonacic’s attacks and
ace gave the South American team some momentum
and led 14-12, but Miguel David Gutierrez’s ace
and Marlon Yant’s spike switched the score 16-14
in Cuba’s favour. Chile never gave up and
Bonacic put his squad back 20-21, but an ace by
captain Miguel Angel Lopez and two solid attacks
by Yant and Lopez secured the set 25-20 for the
defending champions.
The third set stayed more even with Cuba’s 8-7
advantage at the first time-out, but Chile
bounced back and regained the lead 15-12, with
solid spikes from brothers Vicente and Tomas
Parraguirre, and Bonacic. Never out of
contention, Cuba tied at 23 with a 2-man block
by Livan Osoria and Marlon Yant. After four
match points, Julio Cesar Cardenas’ strong serve
sealed the 28-26 victory and the match win.
Marlon Yant led the Cuban offense with 15 points,
followed by Gutierrez (14) and Osoria (13).
Vicente Parraguirre was the main figure for
Chile with 17 points, supported by Bonacic (13).
Chile and Cuba play in Pool A together with the
United States and the Dominican Republic. |
