In a night packed with drama Puerto Rico and the United States advanced to the NORCECA Men’s Final Six gold medal match, each surviving intense five-set showdowns.
Puerto Rico made history by earning its first-ever appearance in the tournament’s gold medal match, defeating the Dominican Republic in a rollercoaster battle (25-27, 32-30, 31-33, 25-22, 15-11).
The Dominican Republic started strong, taking the first set 27-25 after an early lead, but Puerto Rico adjusted and fought back. The second set was a marathon, with both teams exchanging set points until late Dominican errors gave Puerto Rico the 32-30 win. The third set was another war of nerves, tied 22 times before the Dominicans edged it 33-31.
With Pedro Molina and Jamal Ellis leading the charge, Puerto Rico turned the tide in the fourth, winning 25-22, and carried that momentum into the tiebreak. Fueled by a roaring home crowd, they took an early 3-0 lead and closed the match 15-11, sealing a landmark victory.
Puerto Rico led in attacks (74-71) and serves (10-2), while the Dominican Republic dominated blocks (14-10). Ellis led Puerto Rico with 30 points, followed by Molina with 28. For the Dominicans, Adrian Figueroa topped all scorers with 32 points.
Earlier, the United States also endured a five-set thriller against Mexico (22-25, 25-22, 19-25, 25-23, 15-13). After dropping the first set, the Americans responded with determination, leveling the match, losing the third, and rallying again to force a decider. In a tense final set, they edged Mexico 15-13.
Opposite Kyler Wade led the U.S. with 20 points, while captain Sebastiano Sani added 13. For Mexico, Ridl Alexis Garay scored 20 and Yasutaka Sanay contributed 18.
With Puerto Rico chasing a historic first title and the United States aiming to defend its crown, the upcoming gold medal clash promises to be an interesting finale. Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic will meet Mexico for bronze, rounding out a thrilling NORCECA Men’s Final Six.
- Puerto Rico and USA Reach NORCECA Men Final Six Gold Medal Match
- ROM W: CSO Voluntari Retains Romanian Women’s Supercup
- BV Elite 16: Brasher and Nuss Strike Gold
- BV Elite 16: Cherif & Ahmed Capture Newport Beach Elite Title in Style
- FRA W: Levallois-Paris, Le Cannet, Mulhouse, and Nancy Deliver Expected Wins in Saforelle Power 6 Opener
