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Cuba claim tournament honours

Havana, Cuba, August 21, 2005 – After both Cuba and Canada sealed the two available Final Round tickets at the 2006 Men’s World Championship second round tournament (NORCECA E) in Havana Saturday, it was the Central Americans who claimed tournament honours with a 3-0 (25-23, 29-27, 25-19) win on Sunday.

The five day tournament, which began on Wednesday, determined two of the four teams from the men’s NORCECA Zone that will attend next year’s World Championship Final Round in Japan. And after both Canada and Cuba won their opening three matches, it was Cuba who maintained their unbeaten record on the final day with a impressive straight sets win.

In Sunday’s other match, Trinidad & Tobago beat Costa Rica 3-2 (16-25, 29-27, 25-23, 15-25, 15-12) for their first win of the tournament to finish in fourth place, behind third-placed Panama (2-2) and ahead of Costa Rica, who failed to win a match.

In an alternate Zone Qualifier, the USA will be competing with Puerto Rico, Mexico, Guatemala and Barbados, to decide the other two teams that will represent NORCECA in Final Round.

The tournament is a straight round robin format with the top two placing teams advancing to the 2006 World Championships in Japan. World ranking points will also be counted from the results, which will affect placing in next year’s World Championships.