Cuba blanked Mexico

 

CAGUAS, Puerto Rico, January 6, 2008.- Cuba downed Mexico in straight sets relying on their usual strong attack. The score was 25-19, 25-23, 25-20.

 

Raydel Corrales was the star of Cuba with 17 points, scoring in 15 of his 21 killing attempts, and Rolando Jurquin and Henry Bell each had 12. Mexican Ivan Contreras led all the scorers with 21 points.

 

“I think both teams can play better than today,” said Orlando Samuels, the Cuban coach. “We did not have many chances to play before this tournament but we hope to improve with the competition.”

 

“They dominated us,” said Ivan Contreras, the Mexican Captain. “There are many aspects that we can improve in the next matches.”

 

The combined exploits of Corrales and Jurquin gave the win to Cuba in the first set despite a late Mexican surge led by Contreras.

 

In a late individual battle between Mexican Bricio and Corrales, Cuba prevailed in the well fought second set.

 

The third set was a piece of cake for the Cubans, who dominated from start to finish leading 8-3 and 16-10 at the regular time-outs.