Mexico’s Magdaleno Acosta spikes
The top two ranked teams, besides hosts Mexico, at the conclusion of eight-team competition will be granted tickets to next year’s FIVB Boys‘ Youth World Championship to be held in Tijuana and Mexicali.
Cuba opened with a victory over French Saint Martin 3-0 (25-8, 25-11, 25-7) in Pool A.
Luis Guillermo Jimeno and Osmany Uriarte scored 11 points apiece for Cuba, (including six aces for Uriarte) while Kareem Brooks finished with seven for French Saint Martin.
Also in Pool A, Nicaragua overcame Costa Rica 3-2 (25-19, 25-27, 22-25, 25-19, 16-14) in a tough battle between Central American rivals.
The winners combined a balanced attack with Christopher Lee Lazo, Ruben Mora and Douglas Chavez charting 12 points apiece while Bryan Antonio Orozco finished with 14. Costa Rica’s Cesar Gomez had a match-high 26 points and Luis Diego Abarca scored 14 in the losing cause.
USA defeated Puerto Rico 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-18) in the first match of Pool B.
Lee Smith finished with 11 points for the American team while Juan Ruiz Goyco and Jose Pagan finished with 15 and 12, respectively, for the Puerto Rican squad.
Hosts Mexico kicked off with a straight set victory 3-0 (25-17, 25-16, 25-10) over U.S. Virgin Islands in Pool B.
Mexico’s Mauricio López finished with 10 points while Alexis Garay tallied 9. Aseah Thomas registered 6 points and Chandler Blaschka added 5 for the defeated side.
