Cuba etched another golden chapter in their volleyball history, clinching the title at the 24th Central American and Caribbean Games San Salvador 2023. The team emerged victorious over the Dominican Republic in a gold medal match, delivering a clean sweep with a 3-0 scoreline (25-17, 25-17, 25-22) at the Sports Palace Carlos El Famoso Hernández.
Undefeated with a 5-0 record, Cuba secured their eleventh Central American and Caribbean title, reaffirming their stature as the reigning powerhouses in Men’s Volleyball at the CAC Games. This victory is particularly significant, marking their first championship win since 1998, while their last appearance in a title match dates back to 2006 when they finished as runners-up.
The Dominican Republic team, despite their commendable performance, had to settle for silver, their third in the history of the Games, having previously won in 1962 and 1998. The Dominican team ended the tournament with a respectable 3-2 record.
The match saw some standout performances from the Cuban side. Middle blocker Javier Concepción and outside hitter Miguel Angel López led the Cuban offense, each contributing 12 points to their team’s tally. Concepción stood out with his serving prowess, delivering four aces, while middle blocker José Masso chipped in with an additional 11 points.
On the Dominican side, outside hitter Hector Cruz was the leading scorer with 10 points, closely followed by team captain Henry Tapia, who collected 9 points. Despite their valiant efforts, the Dominican team fell short against the indomitable Cuban side.
Puerto Rico secured the bronze medal by triumphing over Guatemala in the match for third place.
Individual Awards
Most Valuable Player (MVP): Yonder Garcia (CUB)
1st Best Attacker: Pelegrin Vargas (PUR)
2nd Best Attacker: Josué López (MEX)
1st Best Blocker: José Masso (CUB)
2nd Best Blocker: Rafael Brugos (DOM)
Best Setter: Lyvan Taboada (CUB)
Best Opposite: Henry Tapia (DOM)
Best Libero: Hiram Bravo (MEX)
Best Receiver: Dennis Del Valle (PUR)
Best Defense: Hiram Bravo (MEX)
Best Server: Javier Concepción (CUB)
Best Scorer: Daynte Stewart (TTO)
