The road to glory was not easy. In the final, the Cubans faced the Mexicans Carlos Ayala and Antonio Vargas, a pair that had defeated them three times during the 2016 NORCECA Circuit. And the start of the match seemed to confirm that trend. The Mexicans took the first set with a close 21-19, demonstrating why they were the favorites.
However, Gómez and Veranes, in their debut at a Central American Games, were not about to give up. With a mix of cool heads and fiery hearts, they rallied in a thrilling second set that ended 22-20. The match would be decided in a third and final set. And there, in the moment of greatest pressure, the Cubans unleashed their best volleyball. With a 10-7 lead, they practically dismantled their rivals to close out the match with a resounding 15-11 victory.
The euphoria was overwhelming. Damián Gómez, just 21 years old, confessed amidst the sand and tears: “We are very happy with this first place... they had beaten us, and soundly, in the Circuit, so now it was our turn, and fair and square.” His teammate Eblis Veranes, 22, added: “We spent a year preparing for this tournament and we couldn't let the opportunity slip away.” With this gold medal, Cuba returned to the top of the podium in the discipline, twelve years after their last victory in Veracruz in 2014.
But the Cuban beach volleyball celebration wasn't limited to the men's gold. The women's duo, Maikelin Cardona and Kailin Garrido, also won the silver medal in a truly spectacular final. Like their compatriots, the Cubans staged an incredible comeback in the semifinals, defeating the Mexican pair in three sets (21-18, 16-21, 15-7).
In the final, they faced the experienced Puerto Ricans Allanis Navas and María González, the defending champions. The Puerto Ricans took the lead by winning the first set 21-16, but Cardona and Garrido, with their characteristic grit, leveled the match by taking the second set 21-18. The third set was a nail-biter. The Puerto Rican women drew on their experience in the decisive moments and, in a dramatic finish, prevailed 18-16 to claim the gold.
Despite the loss, the Cuban women left the arena with their heads held high. “We went out there to give it our all because this was our opportunity... we got it, and here we are, runners-up,” said Maykelín Cardona. Her teammate, Kailín Garrido, brimming with joy, declared: “Being able to stand on the podium in our debut at the Central American and Caribbean Games is something truly special.”
The gold medals won by Damián Gómez and Eblis Veranes, and the silver medals won by Maykelín Cardona and Kailín Garrido, are more than just two medals. They are the confirmation of a new generation of Cuban volleyball players who, with youth, talent, and an iron will, have arrived to write their own history on the sand. The Cuban delegation concluded its participation in beach volleyball with a flawless performance in the men's division, without losing a single match, and a promising future in the women's division. In Santo Domingo, Cuban beach volleyball roared once again.
Credits: I used Google Translate.
