🇨🇺 CUBA vs BRAZIL 🇧🇷 | Highlights | Men’s VNL 2024

🇨🇺 CUBA vs BRAZIL 🇧🇷 | Highlights | Men’s VNL 2024. Cuba silence the Maracanãzinho and upset Brazil. The Caribbean took a major step towards the Paris Olympics with the victory in their VNL debut!

A packed Maracanãzinho stadium for the return of legendary head coach ‘Bernardinho’ Rezende didn’t intimidate Cuba as the Caribbean stunned Brazil in front of nearly 10,000 fans to start the Volleyball Nations League 2024 on the right foot. Last year’s bronze medalists Japan also began their campaign well, downing Argentina in Rio de Janeiro.

Benefiting from an excellent collective performance, the Cubans secured a big 3-1 (25-23, 27-29, 25-21, 25-21) victory over the South Americans in Pool 2 and significantly improved their chances of qualifying for the Paris Olympics.

The first national team sitting below the cut-off line, Cuba earned 12.7 points in the FIVB World Rankings with the victory, going up from 11th to tenth place and getting to 249.66 to now rank just 3.56 points behind Serbia, the last team inside the qualification zone – they can move above the cut-off line on Wednesday if the Serbians lose to Iran in Rio. Despite the upset, Brazil continue in fifth place.

A well-diversified offense was one of the keys to the Cuban victory as five players reached double digits in scoring in the match – outside hitters Marlon Yant (18) and Miguel Ángel López (15), opposite Michael Sánchez (14) and middle blockers Javier Concepcion (13) and Robertlandy Simón (12).

“To win here at the Maracanãzinho, with this atmosphere, it’s crazy,” Simón commented. “We knew we needed good results this week to help us qualify for the Olympics and today was a good start. We need to keep taking it one step at a time. We’ll give everything to make it to Paris.”

Playing aggressively, the Cubans also outscored the Brazilians in blocks (ten to four) and aces (seven to four), paving the way for their victory.

Cuban-born Brazilian outside hitter Yoandy Leal led all scorers with 19 points (17 kills, two aces), with fellow outside hitter Ricardo Lucarelli adding another 11, with nine kills, one block and one ace.

“Our serving and our blocking didn’t work the way we expected today,” Lucarelli reflected. “We knew Cuba would give everything because this match was so important for them and unfortunately we didn’t play well. We hate to start the VNL losing, even more in front of our fans, but I’m sure we’ll improve.”

Like, Share, Subscribe For More Volleyball content
* 🔔 Don’t Forget to Hit the Bell Icon 🔔 *

All Credits by FIVB:

Volleyball TV: https://go.volleyball.world/TV?ytv=d

– Watch ALL the Volleyball Action https://go.volleyball.world/TV?ytv=d

– Subscribe NOW https://go.volleyball.world/Subscribe…

– News, Schedules, Results & more: https://go.volleyball.world/VNL?ytv=d

FOLLOW VOLLEYBALL WORLD ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Instagram: https://go.volleyball.world/Instagram…

Facebook: https://go.volleyball.world/Facebook?…

Twitter: https://go.volleyball.world/Twitter?y…

More info: https://go.volleyball.world/home?ytv=d

Serv is now with Miguel Lopez Japan with Panasonic Panthers as one member of the Cuban party plays at home domestically middle attack there they’re staying in the middle the ball’s on the floor Lucas attacking against Robert Landy Simone two of the best in the replaced renand deloto oh that’s whip through the middle at the start 95 Robert Landy Simone delivering a service in the aftermath of the last International season there’s a pick up oh wave across lucarelli oh and that approach there Froman into that block from Cuba fortunately for them Marlin y able to save it but that time bent it back over but out of Bounce got a ripping run their offense through the middle of the Court as well this time concepion on the 31 Brazil called it out there’s the up push that tip up and over the block here mistake brail come again middle attack one onone that is what a heck of a block good block here watch his patience good good reaction gets a move over puts his hands over the net to shut down Luc relli out of the back row the Olympic gold medal winning vintage here in 2016 tman big up Bruno gets the back in system cracking read that from the Cubans what a block an amazing block by Marlin yet this was a great play there here’s daron’s did diving out of the way but that only leaves Lucas there and can’t says not on me this no pressure 2220 is the score oh it’s a good serve as well Force the mistake to be fair that’s her hustle good watch this set from Bruno I don’t know how he didn’t net on this play his body control big serve really good serve as well over pass the pass was a little bit heavy but they just about kept in control there here we have three set points for team Cuba this is how set number one has gone L jumping on the back row Setter leaves Robert VI o if you just tuning in what a night in Rio de Janeiro zil Cuba block there’s the up Daran again well played Sanchez gets the ball in the air cuber with an opportunity great work right on that back line they set it to Lal and how about that for a killer look at that squeeze there nice one for Cuba the Cuban block silencing the crowd on this highball triple block against Leal it was Robert ly Simone getting his hands over don’t have to go to the challenge system really speeds up the game [Music] devastating second official C it so yant he given as an ace that ball dropped devilishly devastatingly here whoa great service seven Olympic medals for berardino there a player silver La 84 two bronzes leading the women’s team 96 and 200000 two goals4 and 16 crazy gets that serve in at least here lucari but the pressure was a little bit lacking Sanchez with that hate seeking mile to the corner 18 all set two a great turn down the line from Sanchez 11 countries providing the uh the clubs for these Cuban International Players side out very important in the circumstances got to Simon plays it safe almost forces the mistake balls in the air here big opportunity for the Cubans that’s the up from talles little bit off balance the swing from Wing side mistakes on both sides of the net but that Spike lands Cuba 23 Brazil 22 here second set wow unbelievable wow here we go plays it safe in play Brazil getting system block comes back no Brazil save a third set point their second set point now at 2827 so fifth a serve for them in the contest lucarelli beams that to the back line L pass set there’s containment here Brazil with a Chance set to the left side block comes back at Brazil then they get the contact off the block and darland brings it home played a match the other teams Germany Italy Iran Serbia they get their campaigns underway in the marican aino tomorrow start of the third set CU with that side out and on the serve big up and over free ball here plenty in the air great read Con on through the middle def you’re right Waits front L as he comes flying throw that one back down very good finish again left side Bruno gets the M system there’s lucarelli Fizz on that double does get across to try and snuff out the Cuban attack yes he’s been serving very good all that long Bruno Sanchez misses the bike going to get given another chance to get it right there’s a lot of pace here about Cuba right now middle big miss that and of sorts here a chance if Bruno can set again that’s a little bit High isn’t it for Daran block reads it well improvisation again from Cuba but it’s an overpass rubero shovels it up and over Brazil cannot finish they out of system again Cuba but Simon there to power another down Brazil in disarray here he is with a serve again Cuba’s defense solid they’re going to have to do it again here one onone we spent the last three years Ser is in play pass Fernando in system feeds it up to that back row attacker in play debero with a pass decoy hitter and Lopez silences the arena so 19 back they come just see on Lucas’s face he wants to get set more going to catch off the tape there 59% in here for CU should serve pick up opposite comes in to swing it what Brazil has done and been successful with it all match long but the decoy hitters lavio nice high to receive oh Sanchez into that block how do that ball stay off the floor Brazil have to get it down and it will be down and out the 9M match after that we moved to three matches a day as the top class volleyball comes thick and fast here week one vnl 2024 quite a story is developing here in the americanino Brazil suddenly rousing themselves oh there’s the Block it’s Jon strong as an oxs again through that middle 20 place [Music] 17 Jamon in play that’s more like it y to that line we’ve got an ace here for Cuba so lucarelli now defense there set a little heavy smother Sanchez th die back to Sanchez hang on hang on a minute work the middle magnificently all night long here we’re in play set containment one-handed dig now then how about this out of system set way off the net Sanchez gives the ball to Brazil again Brazil can’t get the ball down so Cuba in to win what a night for team Cuba at the Cino a stunning victory for hazes Cruz Lopez’s team on Match Night One