Both teams had secured berths to next year’s FIVB U19 World Championship but engaged in a fierce battle that lasted just over two hours. In attaining the victory, Cuba avenged the loss suffered to USA in the title match two years ago in Tulsa.
Cubans José Carlos Romero (30) and Cristian Rojas (22) were the match best scorers while Samuel Lewis (16), Jayle Jasper (15) and Joel Schneidmiller (14) excelled on the American side.
“I would like to praise the extraordinary playing level of our opponents who were quite good technically,” said Nicolas Vives, coach of Cuba. “Most of these boys will be great players in the future. We were able to come back and win. We made some substitutions which worked out and guaranteed our triumph.”
Mexico overpowered Nicaragua 3-0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-14) to earn the bronze medal. Mexico’s Miguel Sarabia was the only player with double-digits (10), followed by his teammates Raymond Stephens and Eduardo Kraus with 9 points each. Nicaragua’s side, Byron Hernandez (9) and Jonny Zeledon (8) were again the team best scorers.
Jamaica defeated Dominican Republic 3-1 (12-25, 25-18, 25-20, 25-17) to conclude in the fifth slot. In spite of the strong effort by outside hitter Bayron Valdez, who scored 31 points, the Dominicans did not play properly after winning taking the first set. Jamaica’s Javarie James (20) and Shavar James and Jovan Thomas with 14 points each contributed to the victory.
Costa Rica scored its only triumph by defeating Antigua and Barbuda 3-0 (25-20, 25-10, 25-10) to finish in seventh place. Costa Rican Mariano Salas was the only with double-digits (15) in the scoring charts of match which lasted barely an hour.
2016 Boys’ U19 Continental Championship in Havana, Cuba
Preliminary Round
Mexico d Jamaica 3-0 (25-13, 25-19, 25-8) on 24-6-16
United States d Nicaragua 3-0 (25-23, 25-12, 25-23) on 24-6-16
Cuba d Antigua 3-0 (25-8, 25-7, 25-19) on 24-6-16
Dominican Republic d Costa Rica 3-2 (18-25, 25-18, 26-24, 24-26, 15-13) on 24-6-16
Mexico d Antigua 3-0 (25-10, 25-19, 25-10) on 25-6-16
Nicaragua d Dominican Republic 3-1 (20-25, 25-13, 25-21, 25-23) on 25-6-16
Cuba d Jamaica 3-0 (25-15, 25-11, 25-13) on 25-6-16
United States d Costa Rica 3-0 (25-9, 25-17, 25-16) on 25-6-16
Nicaragua d Costa Rica 3-2 (28-26, 25-20, 13-25, 20-25, 15-13) on 26-6-16
Jamaica d Antigua 3-0 (25-11, 25-20, 25-16) on 26-6-16
Cuba d Mexico 3-1 (22-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-16) on 26-6-16
United States d Dominican Republic 3-0 (25-16, 25-17, 25-21) on 26-6-16
Quarterfinals
Nicaragua d Jamaica 3-0 (28-26, 25-15, 28-26) on 27-6-16
Mexico d Dominican Republic 3-0 (25-11, 25-12, 25-19) on 27-6-16
5-to-8 Positions
Jamaica d Costa Rica 3-0 (25-17, 28-26, 27-25) on 28-6-16
Dominican Republic d Antigua 3-0 (25-11, 25-18, 25-16) on 28-6-16
Semifinals
United States d Mexico 3-2 (17-25, 25-18, 25-23, 23-25, 17-15) on 28-6-16
Positions 7-8
Costa Rica d Antigua 3-0 (25-20, 25-10, 25-10) on 29-6-16
Positions 5-6
Jamaica d Dominican Republic 3-1 (12-25, 25-18, 25-20, 25-17) on 29-6-16
Bronze Medal Match
Mexico d Nicaragua 3-0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-14) on 29-6-16
Gold Medal Match
Cuba d United States 3-2 (22-25, 25-21, 25-19, 23-25, 15-11) on 29-6-16
Final Positions
1. Cuba
2. United States
3. Mexico
4. Nicaragua
5. Jamaica
6. Dominican Republic
7. Costa Rica
8. Jamaica
Individual Awards
MVP: Jose Carlos Romero, CUB
Best Scorer: Bayron Valdez, DOM
1st Outside Hitter: Cristian Rojas, CUB
2nd Outside Hitter: Bayron Valdez, DOM
1st Middle Blocker: Eduardo Krauss, MEX
2nd Middle Blocker: Nazyr Francis, ANT
Best Opposite: Jose Carlos Romero, CUB
Best Libero: Luis Amador, NCA
Best Setter: Jorge Camejo, CUB
Best Server: Jose Carlos Romero, CUB
Best Receiver: Lazaro Arrechea, CUB
Best Digger: Luis Amador, NCA
Best Scorers
128- Bayror Valdez, DOM
101- Jonny Zeledon, NCA
89- Jose Carlos Romero, CUB
79- Byron Hernández, NCA
75- Raymond Stephens, MEX
74- Cristian Rojas, CUB
68- Miguel Sarabia, MEX
63- Jaylen Jasper, USA
60- Javarie James, JAM
58- Shavar James, JAM
Most Blocks
21- Eduardo Krauss, MEX
14- Henry Pelayo, CUB
12- Nazyr FrancIs, ANT
12- Jaylen Jasper, USA
12- Jovan Thomas, JAM
12- Jesus Valenzuela, MEX
Most Aces
18- Jose Carlos Romero, CUB
15- Cristian Rojas, CUB
11- Raymond Stephens, MEX
10- Samuel Lewis, USA
9- Joel Schneidmiller
Best Scorers by Day
31 – Bayron Valdez of Dominican Republic v Costa Rica on 24-6-16
26 – Byron Hernandez of Nicaragua v Dominican Republic on 25-6-16
32 – Jonny Zeledon of Nicaragua v Costa Rica on 26-6-16
19 – Jonny Zeledon of Nicaragua v Jamaica on 27-6-16
24 – Bayron Valdez of Dominican Republic v Antigua on 28-6-16
31 – Bayron Valdez of Dominican Republic v Jamaica on 29-6-16
Best Scoring Performances
32 – Jonny Zeledon of Nicaragua v Costa Rica on 26-6-16
31 – Bayron Valdez of Dominican Republic v Costa Rica on 24-6-16
31 – Bayron Valdez of Dominican Republic v Jamaica on 29-6-16
30 – Jose Carlos Romero of Cuba v United States on 29-6-16
27 – Fuhit Evens Edouard of Dominican Republic v Costa Rica on 24-6-16
26 – Byron Hernandez of Nicaragua v Dominican Republic on 25-6-16
24 – Bayron Valdez of Dominican Republic v Antigua on 28-6-16
23 – Bayron Valdez of Dominican Republic v Nicaragua on 25-6-16
22 – Jonny Zeledon of Nicaragua v Dominican Republic on 25-6-16
22 – Cristian Rojas of Cuba v United States on 29-6-16
20 – James Bavarie of Jamaica v Dominican Republic on 29-6-16
Best Blocking Performances
6 – Enmanuel Reyes of Nicaragua v Costa Rica on 26-6-16
6 – Eduardo Krauss of Mexico v United States v Mexico on 28-6-16
6 – Samuel Lewis of United States v Cuba on 29-6-16
5 – Jesus Valenzuela of Mexico v United States on 28-6-16
5 – Henry Pelayo of Cuba v Nicaragua on 28-6-16
5 – Jose Carlos Romero of Cuba v United States on 29-6-16
Best Serving Performances
9 – Jose Carlos Romero of Cuba v Antigua on 24-6-16
7 – Raymond Stephens of Mexico v Antigua on 25-6-16
6 – Cristian Rojas of Cuba v Antigua on 24-6-16
5 – Jose Carlos Romero of Cuba v Jamaica on 25-6-16
Best Team-Blocking Performances
15 – Mexico v United States on 28-6-16
14 – Cuba v Mexico on 26-6-16
14 – United States v Mexico on 28-6-16
13 – Mexico v Nicaragua on 29-6-16
12 – Nicaragua v Costa Rica on 26-6-16
11 – Jamaica v Costa Rica on 28-6-16
Best Team-Serving Performances
22 –Cuba v Antigua on 24-6-16
12 – Mexico v Antigua on 25-6-16
12 – United States v Costa Rica on 25-6-16
11 – United States v Nicaragua on 24-6-16
11 – Cuba v Jamaica on 25-6-16
Highest Scoring Sets
28-26 Nicaragua v Costa Rica (1st Set) on 26-6-16
28-26 Nicaragua v Jamaica (1st Set) on 27-6-16
28-26 Nicaragua v Jamaica (3rd Set) on 27-6-16
28-26 Jamaica v Costa Rica (2nd Set) on 28-6-16
27-25 Jamaica v Costa Rica (3rd Set) on 28-6-16
Highest Scoring Matches
214 - Dominican Republic d Costa Rica 3-2 (18-25, 25-18, 26-24, 24-26, 15-13) on 24-6-16
213 - United States d Mexico 3-2 (17-25, 25-18, 25-23, 23-25, 17-15) on 28-6-16
211 - Cuba d United States 3-2 (22-25, 25-21, 25-19, 23-25, 15-11) on 29-6-16
210 - Nicaragua d Costa Rica 3-2 (28-26, 25-20, 13-25, 20-25, 15-13) on 26-6-16