Havana/The debacle of Cuban sports has permeated volleyball. The men’s team lost 3-0 to China this Sunday in the last match of the first week of activities of the Volleyball Nations League. The result meant the island’s fourth defeat in the same number of games, which, despite being the start of the tournament, practically closes the possibility of qualifying for the final phase.
From Linyi, China, Jesús Cruz’s team fell with scores of 21-25, 19-25 and 23-25, in a performance that was repeated in two other matches. In the first match, the Island was also swept 3-0 by Poland. The fall was with scores 16-25, 20-25 and 21-25. Three days later, Cuba faced Ukraine. For the second time they succumbed 3-0 and with the same sets (21-25, 20-25 and 16-25).
It was not until the third match that the Island was able to win a set, although it lost to Slovenia. After losing the first set 15-25, the Cuban team won the next two (28-26 and 25-19). However, he could not keep up the pace and lost the last two sets (14-25 and 11-15).
With more than 50 unforced errors during the four games, Cuba sentenced its destiny
The Cuba team has been its main enemy this week. With more than 50 unforced errors during the four games, Cuba sealed its destiny, in which it added just two sets in favor against 12 against. He also couldn’t do any damage with his serve, which caused him to lose dozens of points at the net.
Another aspect that undermined the team was the absence of top players. For various reasons, Robertlandy Simon, Miguel Ángel López, Osniel Mergarejo and Marlon Yant were not among those eligible for the first week of the Nations League, although they will surely see activity in the following weeks of competition.
However, the calendar will put Cuba at four powers for their next meetings. For week 2 of the competition to be played in Orleans, France, they will face the United States. A day later they will face the locals. Later to Serbia and, finally, against Iran.
So far, after a week of activities, Cuba occupies seventeenth position – penultimate – in the Volleyball Nations League, only above Argentina.
The exploits of the golden generation of the Cuban volleyball team in the 90s are far away.
Gone are the exploits of the golden generation of the Cuban volleyball team in the 90s. With that team, the Island won the silver medal in the World Championship held in Brazil in 1990 – something that could only be equaled in 2010.
Furthermore, in the Olympic Games, he achieved the second best result for Cuba in history, placing fourth in 1992, behind Brazil, the Netherlands and the United States. That performance was only surpassed by the bronze obtained in Montreal 1976.
That team, led on the court by Lázaro Beltrán Rizo, won the gold medal at the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana, and first place at the Central American Games in Santiago de los Caballeros, in the Dominican Republic, in 1986, and in Ponce 1993, Puerto Rico.
However, starting in 2010, the country’s volleyball debacle has accelerated. In 2014, in Poland, the Cubans finished in 11th place in the World Cup. Four years later, in the championship played in Italy and Bulgaria, the Cuban team finished in 17th place. In 2022, he finished in 14th place, while in the last edition, at Philippines 2025, he obtained his worst result in history, occupying 20th position.
