MATCH INFO

Almirante Brown, Argentina, August 20, 2011 – Yordan Bisset scored 32 points to lead a sensational comeback as Cuba out dueled Brazil 21-25, 19-25, 25-21, 27-25, 15-13 to secure a spot in the top-eight teams of the FIVB Boy’s Youth World Championship.

The victory earned Cuba two more points and now totals five while Brazil and France who play on Sunday have three points apiece.

Bisset had five aces and two aces among his 32 points while Lazaro Fundora contributed 18 points. Brazil’s Henrique Batagim led the South American side with 19 and Alan Souza and Joao Ferreira finished with 15 and 14 respectively.
 
The match began balanced with excellent blocks from both sides. Cuba reached the first technical time out two points over Brazil with an amazing diagonal spike by Loyola Lavin Nelson (8-6). After several mistakes made by Brazil they improved and took advantage over its opponent leading the second technical time out with a three-point difference (16-13).The South American team took the control of the match increasing the score (22-17). Then Cuba recovered due with Yordan Bisset’s serves forcing Brazil’s coach to call for a second time out. The set finished 25-21 in favor of Brazil thanks to an error in Cuba’s defense.

The second set started pretty equal, with both teams close in the scoreboard, but it was Cuba the one who reached the first technical time out by one point. Then Brazil managed to surpass and take a four-point lead (15-11) and found itself in front 16-13 at the second technical time out. The excellent structure of Brazil’s game and an amazing ace made by Gualberto Flavio helped them to claims the set with a comfortable 25-19 margin.

Different from the two previous sets, in the third Brazil took a big lead over Cuba reaching the first technical time out (8-4) thanks to its well organized play and one thundering ace made by Souza Alan. After a time out called by Cuba´s head coach, the team recovered and shortened the distance The South America’ side was still leading  the set (14-12), until Bisset equalized the score hammering one ace for a 15-all tie. The Cubans took some momentum and after leading 16-15 at the second TTO, they went on to take the set 25-21.

Cuba led the first technical time out of the fourth set due to its good attack system (8-6). Then Brazil recovered to cut the distance 15-14 but Cuba remained in front 16-15 at the second TTO. The red and blue team started making unforced errors giving up the lead to Brazil. Gualberto Flavio’s ace earned his team a three-point cushion (19-16) that suddenly disappeared. Teams engaged in a point by point battle with the Caribbean side prevailing 27-25.

The scoreboard read an equal game in the early going of the tie-breaker. Teams traded sides with Brazil leading 8-7. Danger Quintana’s ace off the net followed by Osoria’s block gave the advantage 12-11 to Cuba. With the score tied at 13-all, Cuba’s Betharte s scored with a spike and followed with a lightning ace for the 15-13 win.