Winnipeg, Canada,  September 12, 2005.-  Cuba remained unbeaten (3-0) at the Norceca Men’s Continental  Championships with a triumph in consecutive sets over host Canada who suffered its second defeat. The score was 25-22, 25-23, 25-18 and with their triumph, Cuba qualified automatically for the semi finals of the competition as winner of Pool A. Canada finished third and will play against Puerto Rico in the quarterfinals.

Raidel Poey was the top Cuban scorer with 20 points while Paul Duerden was the best of the Canadians with 12 points. It was a packed house at the MTS centre with the anticipation that the home team was going to be victorious.

It was Cuba drawing first blood going up by 2 to lead 3-1 and remain up 8-5 at the first technical time out. Canada responded to the challenge to tie it up at 8 and it was a side out war from that point on. At the second technical time out it was Cuba a head 16-15. They would add a few more on their way to a first set victory 25-22.

It was back to the wire in set two locked at 4-4 Canada took the advantage off a huge block to go up 6-4. A couple more and Canada was ahead 8-5 at the first technical time out. Cuba responded to tie the set at 8 and from their both teams exchanged thundering kills. Canada pushed ahead off a couple key blocks to take a 16-13 lead at the second technical time out.

Cuba would again fight back to force a time out up 18-17 and then would add two more to go up 20-17. Canada attacked again to get with in two but Cuba shut the door winning 25-23.

It was all or nothing for the Canadians in set three. It was all tied up at 7-7 when Cuba scored to take an 8-7 lead at the first technical time out. It remained a one point game as both teams continued to side out. At 14-14 Cuba scored two quick ones to go up 16-14 then two more for an 18-14 advantage. Cuba seemed to gain the edge over Canada going up further 23-18, then two quick points put it all to an end winning 25-18.