SANTIAGO – Brazil and Cuba secured wins in today’s 2nd Round matches of Group B at the 2023 Pan American Games Men’s Volleyball tournament held in Santiago.
Brazil clinched a straight-set victory over Mexico, finishing 3-0 (25-13, 25-15, 25-20). Dominating the match, the Brazilian side saw impressive performances from opposite hitter Darlan and middle blocker Judson Nunes, tallying 18 and 11 points respectively. Despite their spirited defense, Mexico fell short, with outside hitter Mauro Fuentes leading with 9 points.
Cuba also emerged victorious in a challenging 3-0 match against Colombia (25-22, 25-23, 25-23). Alejandro Gonzalez and Miguel Angel López stood out for Cuba, especially in the opening set. The subsequent sets witnessed Colombia pushing back fiercely, even tying in the third set at 21 points, yet failing to match the Cubans’ offensive prowess. The Cuban captain, Miguel Angel López, was the match’s top scorer with 20 points, whereas Colombia’s Gustavo Larrahondo led his side with 12 points.
Both Brazil and Cuba maintain their unbeaten streak at 2-0 and are slated to clash on Wednesday to decide the pool’s top spot and secure a direct ticket to the semifinals. In contrast, following two straight defeats, Mexico will battle Colombia for a chance to advance to the quarterfinals.
