MATCH INFO
Untiring Cuba claims another five-set victory
Cuba completed 14 sets in three days with players not showing sign of getting tired
Almirante Brown, Argentina, August 21, 2011 – For the second day in a row, Cuba prevailed in a five-setter this time against a relentless Korea to earn top place in Pool C of the 2011 FIVB Boy’s Youth World Championship on Sunday. The score was 24-26, 25-21, 21-25, 25-20, 15-13.
Yordan Bisset led four Cubans in double digits with 20 points, next to Lazaro Fundora and Danger Quintana each with 15 and Livan Osoria who charted 11. The top scorer of the match was Korea’s Gyeong-Bok Na who totaled 27 followed by Myung-Geun Song who finished with 21 points. Seong-Tae Jin had five blocks among his 17 points for the defeated side.
The score stayed close early in the first set started as both teams were performing great. Then Korea made three consecutive blocks and won the remaining points leading to the first TTO (8-6). Korea increased to a six-point comfortable lead behind the amazing blocks executed by Lee Seung-Won and Cheon Jong-Beom. However, Cuba recovered its strength and narrowed the difference in the score (16-15). A big battle started on and finally Korea managed to win the set 26-24.
Like in the opening set, the second started with both teams staying close, but Cuba was ahead 8-5 in the first pause. Cuba’s engine was running with full throttle as they landed in the second technical time-out with a five-point cushion at 16-11. The Caribbean side was not going to stop and continued dominating the Asian squad with their booming spikes. Despite de Korea’s effort, Cuba wrapped it up 25-21.
Following the same pattern, the third set began with both teams on fire. Cuba took the lead 8-6 and the shots continued coming out from both sides. Thanks to the exploits of Myung-Geun Song, Korea took the lead 16-13 at the second stop. Bisset’s aced and the spike of Fundora shortened the difference (19-17). However the set went to Korea (25-21) sealed by the performance of Gyeong-Bok Na and the mammoth spike of Jeong-Su Park.
The fourth set started really even with both teams trading point by point until the first TTO when Cuba was in front 8-7. With improved field defense and several potent spikes by Livan Osoria, the Cuban side improved to 16-13. They never stopped from there combining strong offense with Korean errors to close it 25-20.
Both teams were determined to win the match and entered the tie-breaker to test their desire for victory. The Korean libero Kwang-Hyon Baek proved to be a great defender against the thundering spikes coming from the Cuban side. The score stayed closer until the end with both teams failing serves. Finally Cuba sealed the triumph 15-13.
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