2024-07-11 07:11:14
Text: Cuba News 360 Editorial Team
Photo: RL Hevia / Archive
The Cuban team suffered a tough 1-3 setback against the always difficult Canadian team, in its first appearance of the second week of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL), where it did not have the services of its captain and spark plug Robertlandy Simรณn, who was suffering from back pain just before the first serve of the game.
More unforced errors than usual, combined with the powerful and effective defense at the net by the Americans, resulted in the second failure in five games for coach Jesรบs Cruz’s team so far this tournament.
The defeat cost Cuba 8.98 points in the world ranking and now they have a total of 252.19, but they still occupy ninth place and are well ahead of their closest pursuer for the Olympic ticket, Serbia (238.51), which will face the Netherlands (222.14) on Wednesday in another match of utmost importance for the aspirations of both European teams.
Canada was the team that did close a significant gap with respect to the Cuban team and rose, with 243.39 points, to tenth place in the ranking. However, the host team of the group in the second week of the VNL already has a ticket to Paris since last year’s pre-Olympic tournament, so the mathematical variables and its final position are of no concern to it.
The locals at TD Place in Ottawa won the first set without much difficulty with a score of 25-21, but Cuba equalized the game in the second, but not before pushing themselves to the limit until they won 25-27. The third set was again easy for the hosts (25-20), and when it seemed that the Caribbeans would tie the game, matchsquandered a 16-20 lead in the fourth quarter to eventually fall 28-26.
A quick look at the statistics shows that blocking was the aspect of the game that tipped the balance in favor of the northerners. A whopping 18 points defending the net, compared to only six for the Cubans, made the difference in a duel in which Eric Loeppky scored 22 points on offense, while his teammate Stephen Timothy Maar (20) consolidated himself as the second highest scorer of the tournament with 95.
However, the main nightmare for Cuba emerged in the figure of center back Fynnian Lionel McCarthy, who only added 11 points, but seven of them in blocking, most of them in key situations of the match. Not by chance, the 24-year-old center back reached 16 in the tournament and took the lead in that department.
On the Caribbean side, the offensive voice was once again carried by their two star auxiliary attackers Marlon Yant and Miguel Angel Lopez, with 19 and 18 points, respectively. Despite the efforts of Michael “the Russian” Sanchez (11) and center Javier Concepcion (11) the absence of Simon was felt throughout the night. The point guard Christian Thondike was not sharp either, hence the feast that the Canadians had in the net.
The island team’s next match will be on Thursday against the Netherlands, a life-or-death challenge in pursuit of qualification for the French capital. Regardless of what happens in the previous clash between the Dutch and Serbians, Cuba will arrive at this match with an advantage in the rankings, but will have to fight to increase it, since its next rivals are Italy and France, two world volleyball powers at present.