The Cuban men's volleyball team crushed Guatemala this Saturday 3-0, with set scores of 25-13, 25-14, and 25-10, to maintain their undefeated streak in the 2026 Men's Norceca taking place in Moncton, Canada.
According to the official agency Prensa Latina, it was the second consecutive victory for the Cuban team in Group B, after defeating the Dominican Republic 3-0 on Friday in the tournament's opening match.
The Cuban team dominated Guatemala in every aspect of the game: they outperformed their opponent in attack with a score of 43-23, in blocking with 11-1, and in direct serves with 6-1, while the Guatemalans also gave away 15 points due to their own errors.
Osniel Mergarejo and Marlon Yant led the Caribbean offense with eight points each. On the Guatemalan side, Carlos López was the standout with seven points, followed by Andy Leonardo Blanco with six.
With six points, Cuba leads Group B and is very close to securing its ticket to the next phase of the tournament.
The United States ranks second with three points, after also defeating Guatemala 3-0 on Friday with scores of 25-13, 25-13, and 25-11. This Saturday, the Americans will face the Dominican Republic, which, along with Guatemala, remains without points after two rounds.
The emphatic start is particularly significant considering that the team arrived in Moncton on the same day as their debut, which forced the Cuban federation to formally request that the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) move the schedule of the first match to the last slot of the day. Despite this logistical setback, Cuba responded with two crushing victories in straight sets.
The current performance contrasts with the closure of the 2026 Nations League, where Cuba finished in 16th place out of 18 teams with just three wins and nine losses. However, the team regained confidence by winning the bronze medal at the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo.
The 2026 Men's NORCECA Continental Championship, running until September 19 at the Avenir Centre in Moncton, holds double significance for Cuba: the tournament will distribute three spots for the 2027 World Volleyball Championship and will also determine the teams that will continue vying for the NORCECA Olympic berth for the Los Angeles 2028 Games—goals that the Cuban team is beginning to approach with growing confidence.
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