After a defeat against China, the Caribbean team`s qualification for the VNL Finals hinges on other match outcomes.
A frustrated Marlon Yant shows his concern during the match against the Chinese team.
On the final day of the Volleyball Nations League 2025 Preliminary Phase, Cuba missed a crucial opportunity to secure their place in the Finals. Their hopes now rest on the outcomes of other matches to determine if they will travel to Ningbo, China, for the VNL Finals scheduled from July 30 to August 3.
A victory against China in Gdańsk would have guaranteed their spot in the decisive round. However, Cuba suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat (20-25, 25-23, 15-25, 25-22, 19-17), forcing them to anxiously await other results.
Currently, Cuba holds sixth place in the VNL standings with six wins and 20 points. Their qualification depends on either Bulgaria (playing Iran in Gdańsk) or Slovenia (facing Serbia in Ljubljana) failing to secure a victory.
Wang Bin, the 24-year-old outside hitter, was instrumental in China`s win, leading his team with an impressive 26 points (24 kills, one block, one ace). Team captain and opposite Jiang Chuan also contributed significantly with 13 points, comprising ten kills, two blocks, and one ace.
Despite a brilliant 31-point effort from Cuba`s star outside hitter Marlon Yant (29 kills, two blocks), it wasn`t enough to clinch the victory. Team captain and outside hitter Miguel Ángel López also added 17 points (14 kills, two blocks, one ace).
According to Masso, “China performed exceptionally well today. They contested every point relentlessly. We didn`t exert enough pressure to win the match. While we fought, I believe we need to improve in this aspect, as we sometimes fall short.”
Sunday`s schedule in Gdańsk includes two more matches: Bulgaria versus Iran at 17:00 local time (15:00 GMT), followed by France and Poland in a highly anticipated rematch of the Paris 2024 Olympics gold medal game at 20:30 local time (18:30 GMT).
Ukraine Eliminated from Finals Race
VNL newcomers Ukraine faced a similar scenario to Cuba, requiring just one victory to secure their spot in Ningbo. However, their 3-1 defeat (25-21, 25-27, 31-29, 25-21) against Canada in Ljubljana means they are now out of contention for the Finals.
Despite currently being within the qualification zone in seventh place with six wins and 18 points, the Ukrainian team will inevitably be surpassed by the winner of the Bulgaria vs. Iran match, pushing them down to eighth.
For Canada, outside hitter Skyler Varga led the offense with a match-high 27 points (24 kills, two blocks, one ace). Opposite Jordan Canham also contributed 14 points (13 kills, one block).
Ukraine`s Dmytro Yanchuk spearheaded their attack with 21 points (19 kills, one block, one ace), while Vasyl Tupchii (opposite), Yurii Semeniuk (middle blocker), and Tymofii Poluian (outside hitter) each scored 13 points.
Poluian lamented, “We had a solid chance today, and we simply didn`t seize it. I`m unsure why that occurred. We had several opportunities this week and failed to capitalize on any of them. While we didn`t anticipate being in a position to qualify in the final week, regrettably, we couldn`t take that decisive last step and exploit the chance we were given.”
The final day of matches in Ljubljana on Sunday will see the Netherlands, already relegated, play Italy at 16:30 local time (14:30 GMT), followed by Slovenia against Serbia at 20:30 (18:30 GMT).
Jasper Thornfield