Noslen Diaz and Jorge Luis Alayo

Havana, June 5 (JIT) - The Cuban duo of Noslen Diaz and Jorge Luis Alayo became the first champions of the Norceca U-23 Beach Volleyball Tournament of Punta Cana 2023, in the Dominican Republic. 

The Antilleans dominated Costa Ricans Julián Araya and Jhostin Varela without difficulties with a score of 21-15 and 21-12 in 34 minutes.

This tournament is part of the new circuit created by the North, Central American and Caribbean Confederation for athletes to accumulate ranking points in this category.

Noslen and Jorge Luis had a perfect performance, with five successes in a row, two in group C against teams from Canada and the Dominican Republic; another in the quarterfinals against the Guatemalan jimaguas Yoel and Christofer Guardado, and in the semifinals against the Nicaraguans Cascante and Meneses.

The other Canadian pairing of Cameron Chadwick and Tynan Gannett beat Nicaraguans Jefferson Cascante and Josue Meneses (21-16, 21-15) for the bronze medal.

Francisco Alvarez Cutiño's disciples will fulfill another important commitment in Punta Cana next weekend, when the Norceca qualifying tournament for the world championship will be held in Tlaxcala, Mexico, from October 6 to 15. In the women's competition, the main pair of Amanda Armenteros and Yenifer Rivera will compete.