Coach Jesús Cruz calls for commitment and determination

Jesús Cruz has asked Cuba's volleyball players for “commitment and determination” as they prepare for a Norceca qualifier carrying a place at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and three tickets to the 2027 World Championship.

Cruz used Cuba's recent run of international competition to assess the team's form. The squad's performances at the Central American and Caribbean Games in the Dominican Republic, the Pan American Cup and a successful tour of Russia and Italy helped him make his selections.

Daniel Martínez and Alejandro Miguel González will serve as the opposites after José Masso withdrew because of illness. The outside hitters are Marlon Yant, Miguel Ángel López, Yusniel Martí and Osniel Mergarejo, who returns after missing the Nations League. Christian Thondike and Ronaldo Flaquet are the setters.

Robertlandy Simón, Thiago Suárez, Alexis Wilson and David Fiel make up the middle-blocking group. Yonder García and Lázaro Arrechea complete the roster as liberos.

Cruz's warning carries added weight because Canada has become a difficult opponent for Cuba. Canada eliminated the team from the race for Tokyo 2020 at the Vancouver pre-Olympic tournament and later kept it out of Paris 2024 through the Nations League. Cuba will begin against the Dominican Republic on the 11th, then face Guatemala and the United States in Group B. Group A includes Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Curaçao.

Cuba remains the most successful country in the competition's history, with 15 gold medals, six silver and five bronze. The United States follows with 10 gold, 10 silver and four bronze, while Canada has one gold, seven silver and 13 bronze medals.