Díaz and Alayo

Havana, Mar 23 (JIT) - The Cuban duo of Noslen Diaz and Jorge Luis Alayo finished fifth in the first phase of the World Beach Volleyball Pro Tour 2025, the Challenger of Yucatan, Mexico, after losing 2-1 (21-19, 21-14) to Portugal's Joao Pedrosa and Hugo Campos.

Their opponents, ranked 25th in the world, showed superiority in all aspects of the game. Proof of this are the advantages in attack (23-22), blocking (6-3), and service (4-1), and fewer errors of their own (7-9), in a match in which Alayo was not at full strength, presumably due to discomfort in his left knee.

However, the Villaclareño scored 15 points, including 11 spikes, three blocks, and an ace, while Noslen added 11, all by spikes.

On the other hand, Pedrosa was outstanding with 21 points (12-6-3) and Campos added 12 (11-0-1).

After this debut, in which they earned 600 points for the world ranking, the Cuban duo will return to the Mexican arenas next week in the second stop scheduled in Quintana Roo and of elite level.

Before this setback, the Cubans won in group A against Americans Timothy Brewster and Ryan Ierna 2-0 (21-16, 21-13) and Austrians Cristoph Dressler and Philipp Waller 2-0 (21-19, 21-15).

On Saturday morning they defeated Italians Manuel Alfieri and Alex Ranghieri 2-1 (18-21, 21-14, 16-14) in the round of 16.