U-21 Volleyball

The men's volleyball team of Cuba advanced to the semifinals of the CONCACAF Under-21 Continental Confederation of North, Central America and the Caribbean based in El Salvador, after defeating Nicaragua 3-0, according to the website of the tournament, qualifying for the World Volleyball Cup 2015.

The Cubans won on Thursday 25-6, 25-10 and 25-11, and finished as unbeaten leaders in Group C with 14 points and 3 wins, followed by the United States (9-2-1), Mexico (7-1-2) and Nicaragua (0-0-3), while Canada (8-2-0) led the B by beating 3-2 (25-23, 25-27, 25-23, 23-25, 15-10) to Puerto Rico, which ended 2nd with (7-1-1) followed by St. Lucia (0-0-2).

Meanwhile, the host team and 2nd place of Group A went to the quarterfinals and will face Americans today, on a day that includes the Barbados-Puerto Rico duel. The home team overcame 3-1 (22-25, 25-21, 25-23, 25-19) to Honduras on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Barbados (8-2-0) finished on top of Group A ahead of El Salvador (5-1-1) and Honduras (2-0-2).

Volleyball
The young women's team of Cuba will face Poland today at the 2nd level of the Volleyball Grand Prix in the city of Trujillo, Peru.

The Cubans lost their 3 matches against the Netherlands, Argentina and Puerto Rico in the 1st week of that group, and goes in last place, while the Polish appear unbeaten with 9 points and 3 wins.

In the other 2nd level challenges are Puerto Ricans and Peruvians, in Trujillo, while Canada and the hosts, as well as Argentina and Holland will encounter in Belgium.

Leading board is headed by the Netherlands and Poland, with 3 wins and 9 units, followed by Belgium and Puerto Rico (6-2-1), then Peru and Argentina (3-1-2), and Canada and Cuba (0-0-3).

According to the website of the event, the matches on Friday will cover the 3rd group comprising Kazakhstan vs. Mexico, Peru-Argentina and the Czech Republic, which will join those of Australia-Bulgaria and Peru-Croatia-Kenya.

Brazil won in 2013, followed by China and Serbia, with the absence of Cuba, as in 2009 and 2010.

Cuba accumulates 2 first places in 1993 and 2000, 3 second places (1994-1996-2000), 2 third ones (1995-1998), 4 fourth places (2001-2004-2005-2006), 1 fifth place (1999), 1 sixth place (2012), 2 seventh places (2002-2007) and 2 eleventh places (2003-2011).

This version of the Grand Prix was extended from 20 to 28 teams, divided into 3 groups, taking into account the position occupied by the countries in the world ranking.

Basketball
With the participation of 10 teams began today, Friday, August 1st, in the Mexican city of Nayarit, the Men's CentroBasket, qualifier event for future competitions.

Cuba, 2nd place in the Caribbean Tournament, played at the beginning of last month, opens against Panama, as part of Group A, which also covers Jamaica, its rival on Saturday 2nd, then Costa Rica on Tuesday 4th to close the knockout stage on Tuesday 5th to Dominican Republic.

In Group B, will cope Puerto Rico, Mexico, El Salvador, the monarch of the Caribbean, Bahamas, and 3rd place in the same tournament, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Four challenges are foreseen in the opening day: Cuba-Panama, Costa Rica-Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico-Bahamas and Mexico-British Virgin Islands.

According to the system of competition, the first 2 of each group advance to the semifinals and ensure the ticket to the Olympic Qualifying 2015, while the first 7 teams qualify for Veracruz 2014.