The journey in the VNL was not easy for Jesús Cruz's players. After a first week with significant absences and the inclusion of young debutants, the team accumulated eight consecutive losses in the first two weeks in China and France.
However, the third and final week in Osaka, Japan, was the stage for Cuba's comeback. There, they achieved their first victory of the tournament against Belgium, 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-20). Key wins followed against Argentina, and a crucial 3-0 victory against Canada (25-22, 25-21, 29-27) secured their place in the competition.
The final record was three wins and nine losses, accumulating 10 points in the standings. Their last match was against the powerful Italian team, the reigning world champions. They won the first set but lost 1-3 (25-17, 19-25, 21-25, 17-25). With this result, they finished 16th out of 18 participants, but climbed to 15th in the FIVB world rankings.
Key Players
Marlon Yant: He was Cuba's top scorer in the tournament, totaling 124 points.
Miguel Ángel López: He also surpassed the 100-point mark, finishing with 113 points. He was the offensive leader in several key matches, such as against Canada with 16 points.
Robertlandy Simón: The experienced captain and team leader was fundamental on the court, contributing in the most critical moments.
The main achievement of this campaign was, without a doubt, maintaining their place in the league. The victory against Canada not only secured their place in the 2027 VNL, but also allowed them to win a direct battle for prestige and ranking position, surpassing their North American rival.
Now, the team is preparing for the upcoming challenges of the year, which include the Olympic and World Championship qualifiers, and the Central American and Caribbean Games. Their performance in this VNL demonstrates the fighting spirit and talent of a team that, despite the difficulties, was able to recover and prove that it belongs among the volleyball elite.
Credits: I used Google Translate.
